The Underwood Family

Missionaries to Argentina

  • Our Family
    • Information Packet Download
  • My Blog
  • Our Vision
  • Contact Information

February 26, 2021 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

March 2021 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Praise the Lord, we are just over a month into language school here in Arequipa, Peru! God is blessing our time in spite of quarantine and 6pm curfews. We are just so grateful to be making progress in the Spanish language, anticipating Argentina opening soon, and having a solid foundation to build upon once we arrive!

Just a few days ago, Ashlee and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary! It has caught be by surprise that I am old enough to have been married this long. Each day, she grows more beautiful, and I just get older. I’m so proud of her progress in Spanish and she is working hard to communicate what she learns every day!

The boys have started school. As of now, they are doing homeschool with our helper, Gladys. I am astonished at how much Spanish they are picking up even while completing school work in English! They really are adaptable and just enjoy the journey!

I’d like to ask you to join me in prayer for the following:

  • Language Learning: I desperately desire to learn Spanish well, and preach the gospel as quickly as possible!
  • Restrictions to end soon here in Arequipa: Some of the most valuable language learning comes from being within the community practicing what we have learned. 6pm curfews have made this a challenge at times.
  • Argentina’s borders to open and their restrictions to end!
    We are truly grateful for the opportunity to serve on the mission field. May God bless the time we have here in Peru, and use it to further advance His kingdom. May He use it to prepare us for Argentina, and the works He has for us there!

    Thank you for your love, prayers, and support for our family! Your

    Missionaries to Argentina,

    Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
    The Underwood Family
    Acts 20:24
    argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church Planting, Family, Missions, Peru Language School, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

January 29, 2021 By Stephen Underwood 2 Comments

February 2021 Prayer Letter – Peru Language School

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Buenos Dias de Peru!

I’m excited to report that our family made the decision to fly to Arequipa, Peru to begin language school while we still had the opportunity!

With reports of Argentina remaining closed to U.S. tourists until June, and the likelihood of other South American countries tightening restrictions as well; we decided to do what we can with the time we have to make progress for Argentina. Number one priority on this list is, learn Spanish!

We begin Spanish language school on Feb 1, 2021 and are excited about taking this next step in our ministry on the mission field. It has been 19 years since I spent any time in Arequipa, and I am just so thrilled that we have this opportunity.

As with any move like this, there have been a few bumps along the way, but the Lord has proved faithful time and time again. We have rented an apartment, furnished it, and hope to be able to sell our “lightly used” furnishings when we leave for Argentina. It can be a challenge knowing that we currently have a near furnished house in Argentina and haven’t been able to utilize it since we rented it nearly a year ago.

As you can imagine, the cost of furnishing two places can be quite substantial. We also have a vehicle waiting on us in Argentina, and now find ourselves needing one in Peru while we are here. Taxis are extremely common and accessible, however with Covid restrictions, many taxis do not want to carry our family of 5.

Please be in prayer with us about a vehicle, and the additional costs incurred by renting an apartment in Arequipa.

We are so grateful to each of you for your faithful love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, mission field, Missions, Peru Language School, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

December 31, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Special Announcement to Start the New Year!

We just purchased tickets for Arequipa, Peru!

That’s right! We are doing our diligence to begin language school, and prepare for ministry in Spanish speaking South America!

After much counsel and advice from my pastor, and the leadership of Vision Baptist Missions, we want to get ahead of any potential delays in the coming weeks and begin training as soon as possible.

We are not yet certain when Argentina will open it’s borders to Americans, and there are mixed reports ranging from a month to six months. With that said, we are excited about the opportunity to be involved in ministry on the mission field and look forward to God using this time in our lives for His glory!

It has been 18 years since I have been in Peru, and I look forward to seeing some familiar faces, reminiscing on old times, and seeing familiar places. Please continue to pray with us as we take any step we can during these uncertain times! We are continuing to pay for our house in Argentina, and will now be paying for a furnished place in Peru; so please pray with us about this additional cost. However, He is worthy!

I had this thought as I was typing this announcement: to us, these days seem unprecedented, and uncertain; but I’m thankful to know that the Creator of this universe is not caught off guard, He is not at all surprised, and His will will be done to accomplish that task of world evangelism! May God’s name be magnified by our lives and actions as we take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth!

Thank you all for you faithful love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, mission field, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

December 31, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

January 2021 Prayer Letter

January 2021 Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Well, we are still here. We found out just 10 days before we were supposed to fly that our flight was cancelled, and Argentina extended their border closure to American tourists until January 31st.

Some of the steps we have taken, and continue to take are: a request for a special exception from Argentina to complete the visa process here, and be able to fly before the borders open. We have also looked into other South American countries in order to begin some language learning. As we gather information about this possibility, we are also watching the possibilities of these countries closing borders to Americans as well.

In the mean time, I was privileged to preach in several churches last month and had a wonderful time of worship with some of the sweetest people! Ashlee and I are truly humbled by the love shown to us by so many. In the midst of COVID, the frustration of being delayed and all the uncertainty has been greatly reduced by God’s people being so gracious, understanding, and encouraging to our family.

Our home in Argentina is nearly set up. There will be just a few odds and ins we will need to purchase when we arrive. We have a vehicle waiting on us, and will need to purchase a second. However, we are excited and anticipating arriving as soon as possible.

Please pray that this will soon be over and passed as we do everything we possibly can to get to the field!

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Family, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

December 23, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

December 23rd Quick Update

I wanted to give a quick update and timeline on our attempts to arrive in Argentina. This year, along with everyone else, has been several road blocks and detours; however, we are continuing to research and exhaust every avenue we can to get to the field.

  • March 31: original departure date, canceled
  • July 15: Rescheduled departure, canceled
  • Sept 20: President of Argentina extended border closure until Oct 30
  • Oct 30ish: Argentina announced Nov 15ish they would open to neighboring countries and residents of Argentina only
  • Nov: we researched the possibility to fly to Uruguay, ferry across the bay to Buenos Aires. Migraciones in Argentina said we would be turned away at the border.
  • Nov 28: rescheduled flight for Dec 31st on word that borders would be open for tourism Dec 20
  • Dec 20: Border closure extended until Jan 31, 2021

    – We have expedited all documents needed to apply for visas.
    – We have paid for FBI Background checks and apostille service twice.
    – We were told by Argentina Migraciones that we could apply at the Atlanta Consulate for our visas.
    – The Atlanta consulate requires a special exception by Migraciones in order to process visas from here.
    – Migraciones will not except any paperwork, or requests concerning visas currently.
    – We have been refunded our tickets for Dec 31 and are researching any other possibilities in order to leave ASAP…Though I have no idea when that will be at the moment.

Please continue praying with us that the Lord will open this door, so that we can get to the field He has put on our hearts.

I’m thankful for the opportunities that God has given me to preach and serve here during our time of waiting. I am working every avenue possible, studying, and continuing training. We, more than anyone else, desire to be on the mission field doing what God has called us to do! We desperately covet your prayers as we strive to get to the field!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Departure, Family, Furlough, Ministry, Missions, Updates

November 30, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

December 2020 Prayer Letter

December Prayer Letter PDFDownload

I cannot express just how much God has blessed our family throughout the month of November! November is a month of Thanksgivings, gratitude, and reflecting on God’s goodness. He certainly has given me more than what I deserve and I want to praise Him!

We were privileged to be in several churches in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Lord brought in several new supporters that have committed to help us reach Argentina with the gospel of Christ. Several extremely gracious and generous love offerings were given to help meet travel expenses, and cover some of our set up fund costs.

One of the highlights of the month for me was our Unity Men’s Retreat! We had the opportunity to spend a few days hearing from Pastor Austin Gardner, and Missionary Jim Roberts III on several topics like; team work, forgiveness, expectations, and bearing one another’s burdens. My heart was stirred to be a better friend to our co-laborers taking the gospel to the world.

I do have a few special prayer requests that I’d like to ask you to join me in prayer with:

1) David Gates and family. (Church planter to Muslims) David’s mother passed away recently. Ask God to comfort them during this time of loss.

2) Keith Shumaker and family. (Church planter in Burkina Faso) Keith’s dad passed away after a long fought battle with cancer. Pray for comfort for them as well.

3) Lori Holt and her family. (Church planters in Chile) Lori’s mom is undergoing cancer treatment and is trusting God during her battle. Pray for her, pray for Lori as she tries to care for her mom, pray for Jason as he tries to lead and encourage his wife during this trial.

4) Blake and Bridgette Young. (Church planters in Colombia) This young couple suffered a miscarriage. Pray for their hearts to be comforted during this time.


Thank you all for your faithful prayers for us! Knowing how faithful you pray for us encourages me that you will also lift up our friends in their time of need!

God bless you all,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Family, Furlough, Ministry, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

October 30, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

November 2020 Prayer Letter

November 2020 Prayer Letter PDFDownload

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel! News reports and reports from our missionary friends on the field suggest that Argentina is making steps toward opening up for tourism and travel! We are praying this happens very soon and quickly, as our hearts’ desire is to be on the mission field.

I am greatly looking forward to several meetings coming up this month, and praying that they will be the last of our meetings here in the United States. We will be in Florida. North Carolina, and Georgia presenting our ministry and our plans for planting churches and training men in Argentina.

Last month, I mentioned our need to raise an additional $10,000 for our set up costs. Praise the Lord, $2800 has been provided so far and we are trusting the Lord to supply the remainder before our departure! These funds will go to initial expenses, a second vehicle, and the remainder of the furniture we will need to set up our home in Argentina.

If you would like to give toward our set up fund needs, please feel free to send your gift to:

Vision Baptist Missions
Attn: Underwood Set up Fund
P.O. Box 442 Alpharetta, GA 30009

As promised, I will also send you a free copy of my free book, that I will send to anyone, anyway! (Great incentive, huh?!)

I want to be careful to show our gratitude to each of you for your generosity and love toward our family. We cannot accomplish what God has put in our hearts without the involvement of His people in the Great Commission! We are thankful for you all!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, set up fund, update

October 27, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Maybe an exciting update?!

I just wanted to send out a quick update on some possibly exciting, maybe pretty important, has the potential to be great, news!

Today, after talking with Patrick and Leslie Henry while heading down to Florida for meetings, planning out a few next steps, and researching some potential departure dates; we learned that Delta is scheduling their first international flights to Argentina on December 31st!

Our current tickets that were purchased in January have been on hold since the lockdown in March. We have until December 2022 to use them, however we must pay an additional fee for changing the dates. We booked December 31st to possibly fly out! We only had to pay an additional $241, but if I’m honest…totally worth every penny to get to our mission field!

Best and worst case scenarios:

Best case, we get on the plane New Year’s Eve and arrive in Buenos Aires January 1, 2021 with no hiccups! (And all our luggage!)

Worst case, Delta cancels the flight due to COVID restrictions, and we qualify for a full refund. We then look at other airlines that are flying into the country and book the earliest one we can!

Basically, a win win!

Please pray with us about this situation! Needless to say, our hopes are up and we are experiencing that excitement we had at the beginning of March! Also, pray with us as we will need to redo our FBI background checks and apostiles (that special and expensive stamp) for our visa paperwork. This process will cost us another $700 – $1000 before it is all said and done.

Thank you for always being so kind to pray with us and for us! We are beyond excited and hopeful for an open door to get to the field and get to work!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Missions, Prayer Request, Updates

October 9, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Replacing Routines

Like most everyone, 2020 has been a year of… let’s call it, a “trying of our faith!” January was an exciting month for our family as we purchased airline tickets to leave for Argentina on March 31, 2020. We were nearly packed by February, had all our visa paperwork in order by March, and then the now familiar statement that has been made countless times over the last six months… “and Covid happened!” This is when a rollercoaster of emotions, frustrations, and revival happened in my, and Ashlee’s hearts together.

I’m not sure how to describe how a man feels when he is in a place of limbo, not knowing when he will be able to “get back to work,” or make plans, or schedule new meetings, or anything else for that matter. The best way to describe it was; I felt unemployed with a salary. Since we didn’t have any scheduled meetings past March 31st, I tried to get on the phones to do just that. The problem was, churches were not even able to meet for several months! The one’s that did start, certainly were not scheduling missionaries that were not already previously scheduled. So frustration began to set in.

I tried to use the time I had to enjoy my family. I began taking a few online courses using my Montgomery G.I. Bill from my Army service. I even researched and wrote a small book that really helped me grow in my personal convictions, if it helped no one else at all. However, I was still growing weary, which made me short, and sometimes unpleasant to be around.

One afternoon, my precious wife, humbled herself, and came to me with these concerns. The Holy Spirit of God gripped my heart as she brought to light the errors I was making in leading our family. My heart broke, I fell to my knees, I prayed and asked God to forgive me, then I went to my wife and children and asked them to forgive me. I can without hesitation tell you, that that was one of the worst, and best days of my life, and became one of the best weeks of my family’s life!

Ashlee and I made a commitment to each other, and to the Lord. It was time for us to regroup, and refocus on our responsibilities as husband and wife, and parents to our boys. For some time, we had gone through the motions. We each had our own time of devotions and prayer, we read our own books, watched our own shows, basically, did our own thing. The problem was, none of it was together. We may be in the same room, but we might as well had been miles apart. When it was time to turn the lights out and go to sleep, we each rolled to our side of the bed, checked email, checked facebook, and stared at a 2×5 inch phone until it was time to sleep.

Our boys had their own deal as well. They did school work in the morning, played outside in the afternoon, maybe some video games in the evening, and were in bed by 9pm. We’ve always taught them to be in the Word and allow God to speak to them. The homeschool curriculum we use has lots of bible, and so I took for granted that they were “getting what they needed.” Again, the problem was, they weren’t getting it from me. So we made some changes.

We have a “new routine” and I, we love it! I lead the boys in family devotions before starting school work in the morning. We take as long as they want if they have questions, and I will pick out several things to discuss. Peyton, Eli, and even Neyland at times will pray for the day, and over specific prayer requests. Everyday, weather permitting of course, I will take a few minutes to just play with them. Honestly, I think I enjoy it more than they do. By the way, 9pm is still lights out! (I’m mean like that.)

At night, Ashlee and I will read a marriage book together, out loud. We will discuss what we read, any issues that need to be addressed, either between us, or with our sons, and then we will make a plan for the next day. We will end each day reading from God’s Word together. This was something we started just after we were married, and like many other things in life, often neglected over time. Our phones are plugged up on the opposite side of the room and silenced. We have set aside time that is 100% devoted to each other. Its at this time, I ask Ashlee, “what can I help you with tomorrow? Is there anything you need me to take care of?” Usually, she simply says, “just love me.” Isn’t it truly amazing that the one thing most wives desire from their husband is not more things, its simply love and time?!

Is our marriage perfect? Not by a long shot! Do we agree on everything? Not at all! But as we create new routines, replace bad habits with good ones, grow in our relationship with God, and each other; even our disagreements are filled with love and tenderness. Right now, Ashlee and my marriage is the strongest it has ever been! I know this is a long post, but I also know that there are likely many others that especially during this time are facing many of the same frustrations we were and are. If this will help give you some ideas about nurturing and protecting the MOST IMPORTANT human relationship you have on earth, you and your spouse, then to God be the Glory! Please know that Ashlee and I are praying with you and for you as you seek to honor the Lord together, and raise your children to follow Him, even in these uncertain days!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: challenge, Character, Devotions, Family, Marriage, Ministry, Praise, Prayer Request

September 28, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

October 2020 Prayer Letter

October Prayer Letter PDFDownload

We have some exciting things unfolding for our family this month! Before I get your hopes up, we are still not 100% sure when Argentina, or Delta for that matter will allow us to fly; but we are getting closer!

What we do know is that God is providing in a special way to meet many of the set up needs we have for when we can arrive on the field! I’m thankful for the help and friend Bro Jamie Greenwood has been to us over the last several months as we prepare to land in Argentina. He and his wife have graciously offered us several needed household items that will now be waiting for us in our home! One of the biggest needs, a vehicle, is available to us! It’s a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, which is an suv that will hold our family! Along with the car, we will be buying several pieces of furniture that will be waiting on us.

This brings me to an opportunity to share with you all! Here is a chance to help two missionary families with one gift! We are asking God to provide $10,000 to help with the cost of the vehicle, furniture, and other items we will need to purchase once we land in Argentina!

For each offering given toward our set up fund, I will send you a free copy of my already free book, that I would send to you anyway; that’s right, FREE of charge! Wait! There’s more! For every $100 given, you will receive an additional 4 copies of my already free book to hand out to anyone that you wish! *Offer valid while supplies last!*

If you would like to help with this need, please send any designated gifts to:

Vision Baptist Missions
Attn: Stephen Underwood Set up Fund P.O. Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support for our family! Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Ministry, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, update, Updates

August 31, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

September 2020 Prayer Letter

Underwood Prayer Letter PDFDownload

We have not received official word yet, however news outlets, and other missionaries in Argentina are saying that the borders to the country may open up in November. While this is disheartening in our own understanding, I am encouraged to know that God’s ways and thoughts are perfect. He knows what is best to accomplish His purpose!

I gave a short update last week about a need that arose unexpectedly. We ended up paying $3000 for vehicle repairs between each vehicle. Praise the Lord, a faithful supporting church has already committed to help with this need! Again, our God is always faithful to provide in great ways!

I also mentioned a project I had been working on for several months, a short book entitled “A Biblical View of Social Issues.” I would be glad to mail anyone a copy that might be interested, or you can email me for an ebook version. It is also available on amazon for .99 because that is the charge they set. Simply search Stephen Underwood on amazon.com  for the best results.

Continue to pray with us for the following:
– Please pray with us that we can leave for Argentina as soon as possible.
– Pray that the remainder of our set up funds needs will come in.
– Pray we can replenish the remainder of the $3000 for our car repairs.

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, set up fund, Updates

August 14, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Quick Update 8/14/2020

I just wanted to send a quick update on our family and plans to arrive in Argentina. As many of you are aware, we were scheduled to leave March 31st, however Covid changed those plans. We are praying that late September Argentina will open its borders to international travel. Yesterday, we heard from news sources that Argentina may delay their plans to reopen the borders. All that to say; I don’t know.

I’ve been blessed to have a few opportunities to preach and present our ministry over the last couple of weeks. I pray that God will give me more opportunities to minister to God’s people while we are still here. If you would allow me, I would love to come by your church and encourage your folks!

Lastly, I’d like to share an unexpected need that arose the last couple of weeks. We had to put nearly $3,000 into both of our vehicles. My truck was $1,000 for repairs, and $2,000 for our Tahoe. We are diligently working to save as much as possible toward our set up fund needed when we arrive on the field, so this was a step backwards for the month. I am always so amazed at how God continues to provide for our every need through the sacrificial giving of His people. I know He always is, and always will be faithful!

I would also like to briefly mention a project I have been working on for several months. Recently, I published, and printed a small book called “A Biblical View of Social Issues.” I would love to give anyone that is interested a copy, free of charge. If you prefer an ebook, it is on amazon for .99 as that was a required charge they set. Please feel free to email, or call if you would like a hard copy mailed, or if you would like several copies!

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support!

He is faithful!

Stephen Underwood
Acts 20:24
Argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Family, Furlough, Ministry, mission field, Prayer Request, Updates

July 31, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

August 2020 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Well, we are in the dog days of summer! It is hot here in Georgia! It’s days like this that I can’t help but think, “man, we are missing winter in Argentina right now!” In all honesty, I am grateful that during this COVID-19 ordeal, that our family has been able to be in the United States, and not in highly restricted lockdowns like other countries.

I think of my friends, Patrick and Leslie Henry in Argentina right now. For over 100 days now, they have had very little access to anything outside of their home! I think of Miguel and Mariangela Sanabria in Colombia, and how they are continuing to do everything they can over livestream and internet to preach the word and teach their young church! So many others that are in similar situations and they don’t have some of the freedoms and luxuries that we enjoy here in the United States of America. I am grateful for being here during this time!

I’m also grateful that the Lord allowed me another year to serve him. I turned 36 on July 22nd and Ashlee and I enjoyed an evening to ourselves in Chattanooga, TN!

We have also been blessed to be in a few services to update folks on our ministry, plans to get to Argentina, and to preach! As your church continues to open some and hold in person services, I would be honored to come and love on your folks as well! Feel free to contact me if there is an opportunity to do so.

I want to continue to mention the needs we have toward our set up fund. I’m so amazed at how God has continued to provide, and how His people continue to give during times of uncertainty. Will you continue to pray with us about the following?

2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000 $10,000
beds for the family – $1450
couch and love seat – $900
dining room table – $500
4 months rent for deposit on house – $4,160
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000

We are so thankful for each of our praying, and loving folks around this nation. You truly are a blessing to our family! We can’t begin to express it enough, just the impact you are having on our family and the lives of others around the world!

Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, set up fund, Updates

June 30, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

July 2020 Prayer Letter

July Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Things are beginning to pick back up! We are praising the Lord for having a few meetings scattered throughout the last few weeks! It’s always encouraging to see God work in special circumstances and times throughout our lives. It only proves to strengthen our faith!

Last month, I had the privilege to accompany Mark Coffey to a meeting in Ohio. Kevin Hall, was also with us as we spent a weekend just north of Dayton. It was a great time of fellowship and reminiscing on the goodness of God in our lives and ministry. I’ve often told folks when asked about going to Argentina and leaving South Africa; the hardest part for me is leaving my brothers in Christ that I was able to work with so closely. I’m thankful to know that we are all working to preach the gospel from every corner of the world and to see Christ’s Great Commission fulfilled in our lifetime!

We also praise the Lord for the team God is using and building in Argentina! Without Patrick and Leslie Henry helping us on that side, we would be at a loss. We’ve been able to sign and lock in a house there in Buenos Aires! Signing allows us to lock in the monthly rate, as well as occupy the house the moment we land on the field!

My “adopted nephew” Tyler Ellis recently married Lydia Bush, who is a dear friend of mine’s daughter, Jeff Bush. They are currently on deputation to become church planting missionaries in Argentina! I am so excited to have the opportunity to serve along side them! Tyler is the oldest son of Mark and Amy Coffey who we worked with in South Africa! If nothing else, maybe they will come visit us (or the grandkids 😉 ) in Argentina!

Shawn Bateman is able to start venturing out again as things open up in Rosario allowing him to continue focusing and working in his church plant. Jason King is still stateside, in a similar situation that we are in, just waiting to be able to head back to the field! I’m just so thankful that God allows us to work with these amazing families!

Please continue praying with us about set up fund costs. We will now need to have FBI Background checks redone and re-apostilled, as the visa requirements in Argentina need them to be within 6 months of submission. This process alone will be roughly $700 for Ashlee and my background checks!

If you’d like to be a part in helping with set up needs; here is a list of some items that will be needed:

2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000 $10,000
beds for the family – $1450
couch and love seat – $900
dining room table – $500
4 months rent for deposit on house – $4,160
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000


Thank you all for your continued love and prayers!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Family, Furlough, Missions, Prayer Request, set up fund, Updates, World Evangelism

May 31, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

June 2020 Prayer Letter

June Prayer Letter PDF Download

I want to thank you all for continuing to pray with us and for us during this time of waiting! We are encouraged by the many folks that have reached out to let us know that they are praying. You all have been greatly used of God!

Above is our June Prayer letter in PDF format. Simply click the link for a printable pdf version! Also, we are looking for opportunities to present our ministry over the next three months! If your church family would be interested in hearing about the need in Argentina; I would be honored to come to your church!

Please continue praying with us about set up fund costs. We will now need to have FBI Background checks redone and re-apostilled, as the visa requirements in Argentina need them to be within 6 months of submission. This process alone will be roughly $700 for Ashlee and my background checks!

If you’d like to be a part in helping with set up needs; here is a list of some items that will be needed:

2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000 $10,000
beds for the family – $1450
couch and love seat – $900
dining room table – $500

4 months rent for deposit on house – $4,160
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000

Thank you all for your continued love and prayers! Please keep them coming on our behalf! It is by the prayers of God’s people that He accomplishes His work through God’s people!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church Planting, Family, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates, World Evangelism

April 27, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

May 2020 Prayer Letter

May 2020 Prayer Letter PDF Download

Special prayer request:

According to Argentine news sources, it appears that all international and domestic commercial flights to and within Argentina will remain closed until September 1.

Please pray with us that we can leave for the field as soon as possible. (Personally, I’m praying they change it to a sooner date.)

In the meantime; if your church is having services, our schedule is wide open and we would be glad to come present our burden!

Above, I have attached our May 2020 prayer letter as well. Please feel free to download and print it!

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support!

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, travels, Updates

March 27, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

April 2020 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

As many are aware and have been praying for us, our departure date has been pushed back due to travel bans in Argentina. We are still not sure when we will be able to fly, however, the moment we know, we will make plans to leave for the field!

I would like to ask you to continue praying with us about our set up fund needs. With meetings being cancelled, and the unlikely ability to schedule new meetings, it will be difficult to present our ministry in any new churches for the foreseeable future.

If you’d like to be a part in helping with set up needs; here is a list of some items that will be needed:

2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000
beds for the family – $1450
couch and love seat – $900
dining room table – $500

4 months rent for deposit on house – $4,160
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000


Please pray for wisdom during this time. Our heart’s desire to arrive in Argentina as soon as possible and start doing ministry!

We are so grateful for your love and prayers, please keep them coming on our behalf! It is by the prayers of God’s people that He accomplishes His work through God’s people!

Thank you for your love toward our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Family, Furlough, Ministry, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, set up fund

March 24, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Pastors, I don’t need a thing!

And Others PDFDownload

We are blessed, we are healthy, and safe. I genuinely am writing this as my way of being an encouragement, really, the only way I know how!

With all the turmoil, anxiety, and uncertainty going on currently, I wanted to take just a moment and share with you something that the Lord has laid upon my heart from His Word!

As I read through the book of Hebrews, I always enjoy reading Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” I find it challenging and encouraging to read about these men and ladies of God that through hardship and adversity, exercised great faith!

I often fear that in the midst of our own hardships and struggles, that we may forget that others have been where we are before, often worse, and God used those trials in a way that brought Him honor and glory!

Above, I have attached just a simple message outline that I have been working on, and I pray that it may be a blessing to you today!

Please know that I am praying for each of you as we navigate this time in history together, knowing that this too shall pass and that God will receive the glory that is rightfully His!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church, Encourage, Family, messages, Ministry, Missions, Prayer Request, Updates

March 15, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Special Prayer Request – Departure Update

Prayer Request PDFDownload

We were notified by Patrick Henry, missionary in Argentina, that the Argentine President has suspended all inbound and outbound flights to and from the U.S. for the next 30 days. This has also been confirmed by the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires!

This means that we will have to push our departure date back to the earliest possible date. While this is not something we want to do, but we are trusting the Lord to continue to guide our steps as He always has!

Thankfully, the real estate agent is working with us and allowing the Henry’s to secure our house until we can arrive! We are so grateful that God has placed co-laborers in our life that are willing to help. The Henry’s have gone above and beyond to help during this transition. I am truly humbled by their love for us!

Please pray for wisdom during this time. Our heart’s desire is to arrive in Argentina as soon as possible and start doing ministry!

We are so grateful for your love and prayers, please keep them coming on our behalf! It is by the prayers of God’s people that He accomplishes His work through God’s people!

Thank you for your love toward our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Furlough, Missions, Updates, World Evangelism

February 28, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

March 2020 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

In just 32 days, our family will once again board a plane loaded with 15-20 duffle bags and spend nine hours flying from Atlanta to Buenos Aires to begin our new chapter as missionaries serving in Argentina! To say that we are excited is an understatement!

We are thankful for Patrick and Leslie Henry and their willingness in finding a house for us that is available when we arrive April 1st! I am thrilled to say, that they have found the one! We were able to secure it with a small security deposit and they signed paperwork on our behalf!

Something specific to pray for about the house we secured is; we will be required to pay up to four months rent in advance before moving into the house! This will be a deposit and three months rent all in advance! Please pray that God will meet this need along with our set up costs!

God is continuing to bless our furlough and support raising efforts! We learned of two new supporters just this week and are praying that several others that said they would be voting soon, will be notifying us shortly! Will you pray with us for this as well?!

Also, we received a generous love offering from another church’s Sunday school classes that brought in $1300 toward our set up fund needs! This will be used to help us gather furniture, appliances, and other household items that we will need in 32 days!

Our visa paperwork is off being apostilled, which is a special stamp needed for the visa completion process in Argentina. This process will cost roughly $2000 alone!

If you’d like to be a part in helping with set up needs; here is a list of some items that will be needed:
2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000
4 months rent for deposit on house – $4,160 beds for the family – $1450
couch and love seat – $900
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000


Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Departure, Family, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, set up fund, support, Updates

January 30, 2020 By Stephen Underwood 2 Comments

February 2020 Prayer Letter: Countdown!

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

It is crazy to think that we are only two months away from getting on a plane and flying to Argentina! In one sense, it feels as though we have only been back in the States from South Africa for a short time. In another, we are counting down and anticipating the day we get to arrive on our new field of service!

God has greatly blessed our furlough and we are humbled, and honored by the generosity of our faithful ministry partners! We are excited to report that $3000 has come in toward our set up funds needs! We also have others that have committed to help meet these needs! I have been notified of five new supporting churches that will help cover the cost of living increase for Argentina!

We are continuing to travel throughout the next two months and raise the additional support and set up needed before we leave March 31, 2020! Please continue to pray with us! We know that God is able and faithful to meet these needs, and that He will accomplish this through His people!

We have started the process of collecting paperwork for our visas! This is always a “fun” (tedious) process, but we are confident that there will not be any issues! We’ve also began the process of house hunting! With the help of our new co-laborers and team in Argentina, we will search for available housing, they will be our eyes and check out the ones we like, and report back the pros and cons! This is a very exciting time!

Something specific to pray for during the housing search is; we will be required to pay up to four months rent in advance before securing a house! This will be a deposit and three months rent all in advance! Please pray that God will meet this need along with our set up costs!

If you’d like to be a part in helping with set up needs; here is a list of some items that will be needed:

2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000
4 months rent for deposit on house – $4,000
beds for the family – $1450
couch and love seat – $900

Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, set up fund, Updates

January 3, 2020 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Special Announcement!

We have purchased our plane tickets!

We are excited to announce that we will be flying out of Atlanta on March 31, 2020 and arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 1, 2020!

Please continue to pray for us as we wind down the next three months of meetings, raise additional support, and set up funds that will be needed for our move to Argentina!

If you would like to know how you can be involved in helping financially with our set up costs; please feel free to email me at sunderwood52@gmail.com or call (470) 399-2036!

Thank you all for your faithful prayers and support!

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, leaving, mission field, Missions, World Evangelism

December 31, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

January 2020 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone! Our furlough is winding down, and we are looking forward to getting on the field, and jumping into new ministry! We’ve greatly enjoyed reporting into supporting churches, and presenting in many new churches, but our heart is on the field!

December was a great month with lots of travel, time with family, and an amazing weekend getaway with my bride! I am truly thankful and honored to be able to serve the Lord with this life of adventure!

As you all are so faithful to pray; please continue to remember the additional support we are raising for Argentina. With the cost of living increase alone; we are asking churches to consider partnering with us to reach Argentina with the gospel of Christ.

Also, we would like to ask you to continue to intercede on our behalf for our set up fund! We praise the Lord that the cost of our airfare has now been covered! Others have promised to help with our set up fund needs, and we have been earnestly setting aside to save as much as possible.

If you would like to be personally involved with our set up fund needs; here are a few items that you can be a part in helping with:

2 cars with roughly 100,000 km – $12,000
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000

If you have any questions, or would like to know how to be a part of meeting this need, please do not hesitate to contact me! All of our information is listed to the right.

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Gospel, Missions, prayer letter, set up fund, support, World Evangelism

November 29, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

December 2019 Prayer Letter

Underwood Prayer Letter PDF DownloadDownload

I’m so amazed at God’s provision and blessings over the last several weeks! November has been an exciting month watching God meet needs and give abundantly what we can ask or think! We sure serve a good God!

Our family had the privilege to be in some wonderful churches and hear of new ministry partners! One of the highlights of the month was an impromptu tour of the east wing of the White House!

In October, we were a part of Fairfax Baptist Temple’s Missions Sunday and met a wonderful family; the Jensens’ as they hosted us for lunch. Bro Joel worked at the White House from the Reagan administration, all the way to our current Trump administration! Recalling his stories only made that White House tour more special!

I want to also take a moment and give God praise for supplying the funds needed to cover our airfare as we prepare to depart for Argentina at the end of March! One of our faithful, long time supporters; Victory Baptist Church in Kingston, TN sent us $5,000 toward our set up fund needs! We are extremely grateful for their generosity!

If you would like to be involved with helping toward our set up fund, here are a few items that we will be needing to raise funds toward:
2 Cars w/ roughly 100,000 km – $12,000
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000

If you would like to know how you can be involved in giving toward this, or have any questions concerning out set up needs, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,
Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, set up fund, support

October 28, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

November 2019 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

October was a fantastic month of traveling, missions conferences, and being briefly reunited with some great friends!

It was great to be with Pastor and Mrs. Abbey at Fairfax Baptist Temple and to see the wonderful ministry that God is blessing there in such a needy area of our country! It was also exciting to see David and Brandi Myers at Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, MO! I’m excited to be making plans for them to bring a group to Argentina in 2022!

We saw an increase in support over the last month as SIX new churches voted to partner with us to reach Argentina! Please be praying with us as we still need several others before the end of March 2020 to commit to partner with us!

Lastly, I’m honored and thankful for those that have given or committed to give toward our set up fund needs! Here is just a partial list of items, and their cost that you might consider helping with!

2 Cars w/ roughly 100,000 km – $12,000
Washer and dryer – $1200
American size refrigerator – $1000

If you would like to know how you can be involved in giving toward this, or have any questions concerning our set up needs, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

P.S. We love you Jim and Chrysta Cox! Y’all are awesome!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, missions conference, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

October 1, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

October 2019 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Missions Conference season is in full swing! The Lord has greatly blessed our meetings and we are grateful for His provision as we travel and present our vision and burden for Argentina!

As I mention in last month’s prayer letter, Eli placed his faith in Jesus as his Savior, and I was privileged to baptize him at our home church, Newton Baptist on a Sunday morning that we had available! God sure is good to my family!

Last week, we were honored to be a part of Vision Baptist Church’s missions conference and I was greatly challenged by all the wonderful missionaries that were there. I’m humbled to be counted in such a might band of men whose hearts God has touched to take the gospel to the world!

Please continue praying as we will be traveling to Florida, Virginia, and Ohio this month for other meetings and missions conferences! We are excited to be in a majority of new churches this month to share our burden and prayerfully be considered for financial support to get to Argentina!

Lastly, I’d like to ask you to continue to pray with us about our need for a new set up fund for Argentina! We are currently talking with other missionary families and compiling a list of items and their approximate cost to set up a new home on a new field. Several have asked how they can give toward this need as well. The easiest way would be to send it to the support address on the right, and put “Attn: Stephen Underwood Set Up” in the memo line. We are grateful for any gift that the Lord might lay upon your heart to meet this need!

As always, thank you for your continued Love, Prayers, and Support for our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates

September 7, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Thankful for the Lord’s protection!

We had a wonderful time last Sunday at Truth Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA with Pastor Erik Hastings and my friend Pastor Aaron Kuschel! It was great to catch up with some faithful supporters and ministry partners!

On the way home Monday, Labor Day, as we drove south on i95 in NC, we heard a pop in our car, then some dash lights came on indicating that our stabilitrak needed to be serviced. We did a quick google search to find out that it is common and likely due to the rain that we had driven through from Hurricane Dorian.

About an hour later, however, we heard a grinding under the driver side floorboard and started to feel some vibration. I called my friend Brad at Goodyear and he said it sounded like a wheel bearing and to take it easy, but we should be alright if it still felt solid.

Then, about 30 minutes from home, it happened! A louder pop followed by a jerk of the wheel and very hard vibration. We pulled off the exit (which also happened to be the main highway into our town) and stopped. The wheel bearing completely broke, did some damage to the tire, breaks, and rotors, and the sway bar links! Brad said that had we gone much further, our entire wheel could have come off!

We had it towed into Goodyear, free thanks to GEICO, and it was repaired the next day! I am guilty of often taking for granted just how the Lord not only provides, but protects our family! I want to take this moment to stop and give Him praise for all the blessings He has bestowed upon my life! I am one blessed man!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Furlough, Missions, Praise, Thankful, travels

August 31, 2019 By Stephen Underwood 2 Comments

Jeff Bush, Director Vision Baptist Missions

Dear faithful prayer partners and ministry supporters,

I would like to invite you to check out one of the most valuable members of our ministry and training in missions. Jeff Bush has been an influential instrument of God in my life personally for the last 17 years! He has prayed for us, challenged me, and encouraged me countless times since I was 18 years old, out of high school! I hope you will take a few moments and read his information packet and highly consider having him in to be a blessing to you and your church family as well!

Thank you in advance and God bless!

Dear Friend,  My name is Jeff Bush, and I am the director of Vision Baptist Missions. I am very passionate about getting the gospel around the world and raising up more laborers for the harvest. I would like to keep you informed about my ministry and how you can get involved. I believe Christ is coming soon and want to do everything in my power to get the Gospel out before His return. Thank you for your interest in reaching the world!

Information Packet for Bush FamilyDownload

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Missions, Vision Bapitst Missions, World Evangelism

August 28, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

September 2019 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family September Prayer Letter PDFDownload

What an amazing month of watching God work in our family and ministry! I’m so blessed to be able to serve such a wonderful, loving, and awesome God like our God! This month has been filled with His blessings upon our lives.

While visiting a pastor friend, Nathan Gregory and his family in Michigan, I was honored to preach at their VBS and church on Sunday. There were a total of 4 professions of faith in Jesus Christ during the three days of Vacation Bible School!

Then, as we were driving from Michigan to Duluth, MN for our next meeting, Eli, our middle son asked Jesus to save him and forgive him of his sins! We have been praying for Eli and talking with him about salvation for over a year now! One of the most joyous occasions in the life of a parent is when their child trusts Christ as their personal Savior!

We had a wonderful time seeing another pastor friend and his family, Scott Hopkins in East Bethel, MN the following week for their missions conference! God worked and moved in our hearts and we are grateful! I believe God will continue to use that time to challenge and encourage folks for the cause of world evangelism.

I would like you all to pray with us for the following:

  1. Our furlough travels. As fall creeps around the corner, missions conference season is picking up as well! We are blessed to have several meetings, and ask that you pray with us for traveling mercies!
  2. Our support! This is important! Before the end of our furlough, we need to raise 25% more than what we raised for South Africa. Please pray that the needed funds will come in before March 2020!
  3. A new setup fund. When we learned of our visa rejection in South Africa, we donated all of our furniture that was in storage to Camp Rhino for immediate use. Our hope was that we could be a blessing to that ministry though we would not be there in person. Saying that, we will need to raise a new set up fund for Argentina to purchase furniture, and appliance for our new field. Please pray with us concerning this need!

Thank you as always for your continued love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, support, Updates, World Evangelism

August 19, 2019 By Stephen Underwood 2 Comments

Underwood Updates/Eli’s Baptism

I cannot express how thrilled I was to have the opportunity to baptize my middle son, Eli, yesterday at our home church, Newton Baptist! It was roughly, three years ago that I was privileged to baptize my oldest son, Peyton there as well!

A couple of weeks ago, on the heels of vacation bible school at Solid Rock Baptist in Lansing, MI, as we were driving through the upper peninsula, Eli asked me, “dad, can I please get saved?”

He explained to me his need of salvation, how to be saved, and what that meant for him. I was rejoicing within my spirit as he bowed his head and asked Jesus to become his personal Savior! There is no greater joy that I have experience in my life and ministry than when my son’s decide to have a relationship with Jesus Christ!

We are continuing to pray for Neyland! Within the next couple of years, I hope to share a very similar story that he has also put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: baptism, Family, Furlough, Gospel, Ministry, Prayer Request, Updates

July 31, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

August 2019 Prayer Letter

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDFDownload

What a rollercoaster month of emotions and events in the month of July! In the whirlwind of life, I’m so thankful that I have a Solid Rock in my Savior that stands firm through the storm! I’m so thankful for the wife of my youth that God has given me, to love me, to encourage me, and motivates me to live up to the hero she already believes I am!

I had the privilege to accompany a group from Lighthouse Baptist Church in Jackson, GA on a missions trip to Santiago, Chile! God worked in an amazing way in the hearts of those that were there, including my own! I’m so excited about more laborers lifting their hands and giving their lives to take the gospel to the world!

Pastor Chad Gordon, and Missionary Jim Roberts preached some wonderful messages that spoke to the hearts of the people. It’s an amazing thing to witness God changing lives through His precious Word! I am anticipating the many fruits that will come from their obedience to God!

July 18-20, Ashlee and I attended the Vision Baptist Marriage Retreat. It was a tremendous blessing to me as a husband. I was able to immediately implement changes in my life that would strengthen my marriage and grow in grace toward my wife and family! It reminded me just how blessed I am to have the wife that God has given me! She is my star!

The day we left the marriage retreat, we immediately drove to Chattanooga, TN to be with Ashlee’s Memaw who was nearing her last breath on this side of eternity. We were able to spend some time at her bedside, pray with her, and say our goodbye’s. Roughly two hours after we left her side, Ashlee’s dad notified us that Memaw had passed away. Please lift Ashlee and her family up in prayer as they were extremely close.

I would like to ask you to pray with us during the month, as we will be heading north for meetings in Michigan and Minnesota, as well as back south in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia! Our fall is shaping up to be a fun and full schedule in several new churches!

Please continue praying with us for additional support. As stated before, the cost of living increase in Argentina compared to South Africa is substantial and we are in need of additional monthly ministry partners. Please pray toward this end as we desire to get to Argentina as soon as our furlough comes to an end!

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

  • Lighthouse Baptist Church, Jackson, GA
  • Vision Baptist Marriage Retreat

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Family, Gospel, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, South America, Updates, World Evangelism

July 22, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Vision Baptist Marriage Retreat Gleanings

Last week, Ashlee and I had the privilege to attend the Vision Baptist Marriage Retreat. We had a wonderful time and was greatly challenged and encouraged to continue growing in our marriage to one another.

I am grateful for the mentors God has given me, to remind me that my most important relationship after Christ is my wife! Not only is she my most important relationship after Jesus, but my family is the most important ministry God has given me!

Below are some of the great lessons gleaned from the different sessions. I hope they will be a help to you as well!

Introduction: (Pastor Austin Gardner)
“Marriage requires maintenance. We need God to work in our marriages.”
“Just enjoy living life with your best friend!”

Fair Fighting: (Mark Tolson, China)
“The opposite of fighting is GRACE!”
“Experience grace, extend grace.”
– Grace is unmerited by the receiver.
– Grace is costly to the giver.
“Extending grace begins with growing in your relationship with Jesus!”

Raising Children: (Pastor Jimmy Soncco)
“Right now, your kids do not have an option. They do what you tell them.”
“When they are grown, and on their own, will they remember that you faithfully served God?”
“Motivate and allow them to use their talents to serve God!”
“Let them have fun. Serving God is fun!”
“Serve God with love. They are watching and will do what you do.”

Passion in Marriage: (Bro Jim Roberts III)
“Communicate!”
“Share your life with her! If you are right with God, you won’t have a problem opening up to your spouse.”
“Good speaking doesn’t always make for good listening. But good listening always makes for good speaking.”
“It is who we are that determines what we do.”
“You are responsible for your own character and your spouse’s needs.”
“The best way to change your situation is to change you.”
“Just be real!”

Mutual Respect: (Jason Holt, Chile)
“Be controlled by the Spirit, not by your flesh, emotions, thoughts, or circumstances.”
“Submit to one another. Your spouse is the most important person in your life.”
“As we submit ourselves to God, then we can submit ourselves to each other.”
“Liberty is given to us to serve one another.”

Adversity: (Pastor Robert Canfield)
“Because we live in a fallen world, we will face heartache.”
“Not only will you face problems, but you will be trying to help people with problems.”

1. Dealing with adversity requires a walk with God!
– You cannot deal with adversity without guidance, wisdom, and comfort from the Holy Spirit in your life.

2. Best treated daily.
– Deal with today’s problems and don’t worry about tomorrow’s.
– Tomorrow will bring its own problems, so focus on today.

“Our picture of the future is often way worse than what actually happens.”

3. Be joyful!

Adversity has two things in common for the believer:
1. They are but for a moment.
2. They make us more like Jesus!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Family, Marriage, Mentoring, Ministry, Missions, Training, Updates, Vision Bapitst Missions

July 3, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Website Issue Fixed / PDF Prayer Letter Download

Last week, our website that sends out our prayer letters and updates was down. Thankfully, we were able to get it back up and running fairly easily, but I wasn’t able to attach a PDF download of our prayer letter for ease of printing. Here is our July Prayer Letter in an easy to print pdf file for your convenience!

Underwood Family July Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Furlough, Ministry, prayer letter, Updates

June 30, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Underwood Family July 2019 Prayer Letter

God is so good! We just finished up a week of the Our Generation Camp at Sand Mountain Bible Camp in Trenton, GA. I was blown away by the wonderful response by the young people that attended! God worked in the hearts of all that attended!

I am beyond proud and excited that my oldest son, Peyton, signed the pledge, committing himself to follow the Lord wherever He would lead him! What he told Missionary David Gates as he counseled with him was humbling and encouraging! 

He said, “I have followed my parents all over the world serving Jesus, it’s time for me to follow God and serve Him!”

There is no greater joy than knowing that God is working in the hearts of my sons to serve Him! 

I would ask you to continue to pray with us for the following:

  1. Our furlough and need for additional support!
    God has blessed me with some wonderful meetings since being on furlough. I have heard from several new partnering churches, and trust God to continue to provide for our needed additional support to get to Argentina!
  2. Decisions that were made at the Our Generation Camp!
    As many are aware, as soon as our teens make decisions to follow the Lord and serve Him; the devil does everything he can to distract and destroy everything God did in their hearts. Please pray that they will be determined and dedicated to the direction God is leading them!
  3. Please pray for the Chile Youth Congress this month!
    I have the opportunity to accompany a group from Lighthouse Baptist Church and Pastor Chad Gordon to Santiago, Chile to attend a youth congress. I am excited and prayerful for the work God will do in the lives of Chilean young people during the week! We are also praying for God to raise up more laborers to commit to take the gospel of Christ to the world! Would you please pray with us for the meeting?  

Thank you all for your love, continued prayers, and your financial support of our family! We are truly honored to represent you on the foreign field!

Your Missionaries to Argentina, South America!                        

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Gospel, Our Generation, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates, Vision Bapitst Missions, World Evangelism

June 4, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

June 2019 Prayer Letter

April 2019 Prayer Letter PDFDownload

Dear Pastors and Supporting Churches,

I am excited about the direction and opportunity God has given us to head towards ministry in Argentina! As you have all been praying and staying up to date with our transition; I’m thankful for the Lord’s provision and care for our family!

I have been able to speak to almost all of our supporters, and left messages for several others that I will be following up with in the coming days. I am so grateful for the support and understanding of our partnering churches; what a joy it is to be co-laborers in the gospel with you all!

Please pray with us as I travel and update our partnering churches, as well as present in many new churches! Due to Argentina’s higher cost of living; we are in need of additional monthly support. We covet your prayers as we diligently work to raise the needed funds.

Continue to pray for traveling mercies! This month, I will be in Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee! I’m honored to have these wonderful opportunities to preach Jesus, and present Argentina!

I was excited to hear about the work God is already doing with the Henry and King families in Buenos Aires, as well as the Bateman family in Rosario! I believe God has amazing plans for the Argentine people and I cannot wait to be a part of His work!

Lastly, I am attaching a letter from my pastor, Tony Howeth, concerning the process of our decision and transition from South Africa to Argentina! Again, if you have any questions that I can address, I am available to answer them! Feel free to email me at sunderwood52@gmail.com or give me a call at (470) 399-2036!

A Letter from Pastor Tony HowethDownload

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
argentinamissions.net

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Updates, World Evangelism

May 29, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

A Letter From Pastor Austin Gardner

A Letter from Pastor Austin Gardner PDF DownloadDownload

Attached is a letter from Pastor Austin Gardner concerning the Lord’s direction for our family to go to Argentina! We ask that you continue to pray with us and for us during this transition as we trust God to continue His good work in our lives, ministry and family!

Buenos Aires a city of 2.9 million souls!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Missions, Prayer Request, Updates, World Evangelism

May 23, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Vision Baptist Missions Orientation 2019

Last week, Ashlee and I had the awesome privilege to attend Vision Baptist Missions, our mission board, orientation! God used that week to refresh, encourage, and energize us in a tremendous way!

Here are a few gleanings from the lessons that I wanted to share with you all! I hope they will bless you the way the blessed me!

If you’d like to receive any further information about Vision Baptist Missions, you can visit www.visionmissions.com or email Jeff Bush, our director at bush@visionbaptist.com!

Dealing with Fear on the Field
“Scared people make scared people. That’s why they sent all the scared people, in the Bible, home.” – Austin Gardner

Strong Marriage
“Your wife should be the priority in your plans!” – Austin Gardner

“Unexpressed love is un-understood love.” – Austin Gardner

“How you shepherd your family will determine the quality of your ministry!” – Trent Cornwell

“Marriage is a commitment, not a contract.” – Jeff Bush

Contentment
“The defense against an ungrateful attitude is the praise of God!” – Jim Roberts

Cultural Adaptation
“You are already an example. It is up to you whether you’re a good one or a bad one.” – Philip Bassham

Ministry Pitfalls
“Be a practitioner, not a philosopher!”
Stop talking about how to do it, and get out and do it! – Austin Gardner

“The problem with a perfectionist is, no one can do it as well as you can.”
You won’t train anyone to do ministry with this attitude. – Austin Gardner

Satanic Attacks
“The secret of the mission field is not how eloquent, or talented you are; but how much you pray!” – Jim Roberts

Personal Disciplines
“You remember what you gave, not what you wasted.” – Jeff Bush

“Your success as a leader depends on your submission as a follower.” – Jeff Bush

Victory over Pornography
“Create good habits and make bad habits undesirable.”
“It should be painful. The judgement of God is also grace.” – Jim Roberts

Time Management
“There’s nothing more sinister than an idle minister.” – John Walz
Many preachers wind up falling into sin because they fail to be stewards of their time.

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Missions, Orientation, VBM, Vision Bapitst Missions, World Evangelism

May 19, 2019 By Stephen Underwood 1 Comment

May Prayer Letter: Big and Exciting News!

PDF Download Underwood Family Prayer LetterDownload

Dear Pastors and praying friends,

As many of you are aware, and have been praying for us and with us concerning the visa process in South Africa, we were recently denied visas to return to the country.

The last update I sent out was my plans to drive to the South African consulate in Washington, DC to gather information, and ask questions that would help us determine our next steps. I want to update you all now as we have received clear direction and are taking the appropriate steps to follow the Lord’s will for our family.

Several months before we submitted our application to renew our visas, we were praying and asking God to give us clear and concise direction for our family. With the uncertainty of the situation, and the lack of confidence in the process, Ashlee and I began praying fervently for the Lord’s will.

During this time, God began to lay on my heart, a country in which I had been to nearly seventeen years ago! Like many, I wasn’t exactly sure what the Lord was doing within my heart, but He was working none-the-less. Once we submitted our visa paperwork, we left the rest in God’s hands. Our prayer was simply, “Thy will be done!”

After ten solid weeks of praying, God confirmed through our visa rejection that He was moving our family to a new field of missionary service; the country of Argentina!

We are united and excited about this next stage of ministry! God used our time in South Africa to help prepare us, and mold us into better equipped instruments for His purpose! Though our geography will now change, our mission remains the same; to see young men and women reached and trained to carry the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world!

I would humbly ask you to continue to pray with us over the course of our furlough as we now need to raise additional support to reach Argentina. Much of our belongings, appliances, and furniture that are in South Africa, we have donated to the ministry of Camp Rhino and the Coffey family. This means we will be saving and working toward a new set up in Argentina. I know that Mark and Amy can put those things to immediate use at the camp and that it may help them to better accomplish reaching those young people for the cause of Christ!

I ask you to pray for our team we leave behind. They are our family. We love them dearly. I take great comfort in knowing that the work will continue to thrive with the families that remain in South Africa!

If you have any questions about our transition, or steps leading up to this decision, I will be more than happy to address them! Please do not hesitate to reach out! (470) 399-2036 is my cell phone number.

As always, we are so grateful for your continued LOVE, PRAYERS, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to Argentina,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Argentina, Church Planting, Family, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Team, Updates, Visa

April 24, 2019 By Stephen Underwood 1 Comment

Important Visa Update

I would like you all to please take a moment and pray with me and my family concerning our visa renewals. Last week, we overnighted our passports to South Africa after learning that a decision was sent to the VFS office in Port Elizabeth.

Our Passports arrived today and Corli Hall went as our representative to collect the decision. The decision on my visa, which the rest of the family falls under, was rejected.

I will be leaving for Washington DC tonight from a missions conference in PA in order to speak to the South African consulate in person and see if there is anything I can do from this side to change this decision. Our team mates from that side are asking questions and finding other avenues from South Africa.

We are in limbo at this point and are looking at all our options to review, and appeal the decision to reject our visas. Please pray with us for guidance and direction as we continue to trust the Lord in this!

Your Missionaries to South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
southafricamissions.com

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Missions, Prayer Request, South Africa, South Africa Missions, Updates, Visa

April 5, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

April 2019 Prayer Letter

April 2019 Prayer Letter

We have now been back in the United States for a month now. We have had a great time so far seeing family, reporting into some of our supporters, and presenting in some new ones! God is blessing our time during furlough.

Within the last two weeks, I’ve been blessed to be a part of two encouraging, and challenging meetings. The first was hosted at Crossroads Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, GA. Bro Scott Pauly brought a humbling, challenging message on dying to ourselves! “The Herod (pride) in us has to die if we want the word of God to grow and multiply!”

Then earlier this week, I attended the Standing Together Ministry Summit at Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. I enjoyed all the preaching and sessions, but my heart was especially touched during Pastor John Wilkerson’s session on having “The Heart of a Shepherd.” One quote he said in referring to being with the people you are ministering to really spoke to my heart: “The Shepherd should smell like sheep.” My prayer is that I will be so close to the people I am reaching and teaching, that I know what they are dealing with daily!

I spoke to Thulasizwe the other day and he is doing well. I’m excited about his faithfulness, and continuing to stand firm on his training. I pray for him daily and am asking God to continue to use his life in a special way. 

Thulasizwe helping serve the Lord’s Supper!

I would like to ask you all to continue to pray for the following:

  • Thulasizwe and his spiritual growth and faithfulness! I believe God is going to use him greatly, but he needs our prayers of intercession!
  • Pray for our team and our visa situations. We are still waiting on the results of submitting ours in January. Jeremy Hall just submitted their paperwork, and Mark Coffey is still waiting on his results.
  • Pray with us to reach our furlough goals. We are praying and working to raise additional support so that as our ministry grows and expands, we will be able to meet the cost. God is blessing with filling up our schedule to present in churches; pray that they will turn into support along the way!

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland

The Underwood Family

Acts 20:24

southafricamissions.com

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, South Africa, South Africa Missions, Updates

April 3, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Standing Together Ministry Summit Quotes

I very much enjoyed the Standing Together Ministry Summit yesterday at Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN! Here are a few quotes that I wrote down and wanted to share. I hope they will bless you as they have me.

Leading in a day of Spiritual Confusion – Pastor Paul Chappell

“My goal is not to redeem the culture, but sinners.”

“Compromising leaders hurt the cause of Christ.”

“Be balanced! Let the Bible be the thing you read the most!”

“Balanced, Spirit-filled preachers can make a difference.”

Q&A Panel

“People often enjoy the privileges of leadership, but do not want the responsibility.” – Pastor John Wilkerson

The Heart of the Pastor As a Shepherd – Pastor John Wilkerson

“Knowing God has chosen you will keep you there!”

“We are called to serve.”

“The Shepherd should smell like sheep.”

“Your sermons whisper, but your life shouts!”

“If you are Spirit-filled, you will accomplish more by accident than trying in the flesh.”

“There is no success without a successor.”

“A handoff is better than a fumble.”

Q&A Panel

“Dig your well very deep.” – Pastor Mike Norris

“Have the hide of a rhino and the heart of a child.” – Pastor John Wilkerson

A Missions-minded Ministry – Bro Don Sisk

“We need mission hearted churches!”

“The Task of world evangelism was given to the church.”
“Our missions statement is the Great Commission!”

“The Great Commission is not optional but obligatory.”

“We do not get what we want; we get what we emphasize!”

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church, Discipleship, Ministry, Missions, Training

March 16, 2019 By Stephen Underwood 1 Comment

Furlough Ministry Video

Hear how God brought Thulasizwe from a young man without direction to preparing to serve God in full time ministry!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church Planting, Discipleship, Missions, Project South Africa, South Africa, South Africa Missions, Training, Xhosa Ministry

March 8, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

March Prayer Letter: Furlough Edition

March Prayer Letter PDF DownloadDownload

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, Prayer Request, Project South Africa, South Africa, Updates

February 13, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

February 2019 Prayer Letter

The countdown is on! We are only 12 days away from our departure for the United States! This time has certainly been bitter-sweet. However, we are excited to have the opportunity to see friends and family, and report in to our faithful supporting churches. We are also excited to be presenting our ministry in several new churches!

A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to preach to a group of believers in Hout Bay, Western Cape. Lighthouse Baptist Church has made the decision to discontinue services and has stored all of their furniture until God sends a man to restart the work there in Hout Bay. I believe God has some major plans for this core group of believers and that He will bless them and use them in the near future!

Last week, Pastor Wayne Cofield and his wife, Mrs. Connie arrived here in Port Elizabeth! We’ve had a wonderful time with them and look forward to the marriage retreat Pastor Cofield will be doing this Saturday at Camp Rhino.

I would like to request your prayers for the following:

  1. Our Furlough. We are asking God to allow us to raise additional support during our furlough. Our plan is to be in as many new churches as possible while still being able to report in to faithful supporters. As our ministry grows and expands, the need for additional support is necessary. Please pray with us about this need!
  2. Christians in Hout Bay, Western Cape. Days of uncertainty, and waiting on the Lord’s will can often be trying times for believers. But we know that it is during this time that God can mold us and prepare us for the next phase of service! Please pray for them during this time!
  3. Pray for Thulasizwe! Thulasizwe is a young man that I have been working with for nearly two years. He recently graduated high school and is now attending a 6 month continued studies course. His desire is to attend bible college and prepare for full time ministry. Please pray that God will continue to grow him and use him in a mighty way!

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
southafricamissions.com

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church, Church Planting, Furlough, Missions, prayer letter, South Africa, Updates, World Evangelism

January 17, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Visa Renewal Update and Prayer Request!

For the last few months, Ashlee and I have been gathering the needed documents to submit our applications to renew our current visas here in South Africa.

The first time, we submitted our application in Washington, DC on a Thursday, then the following Tuesday, had them in hand; approved! It was super easy! Well, things have changed!

  1. The boys’ passports expire 2/1/2021 and new regulation is that the visa cannot over stay the passport. So we need to renew their passports before applying for their visas.
  2. According to the SA Website, we cannot apply for visa renewal until 3 months out from expiration date. Our current visas expire July, 2019. This may or may not be entirely accurate, we aren’t sure. 🙂
  3. As of now, we can sign an affidavit to allow a third party to pick up our approved visas with actual passports without having to be physically present. (Which was our plan while on furlough.) However, that process has ended for Permanent Residence and appears to be ending soon for the temporary visas we are applying for.

So, this leaves us with two possible options in our visa renewal process:

  1. Ashlee and I attempt to renew ours any way before we leave, then apply for the boys new passports and visas in the States.
  2. Stop the process entirely until we are in the U.S. and attempt to renew the whole family’s visa on that side at the same time.

Neither one is a guarantee as the process has become increasingly more difficult in recent years. We just learned of a family in Johannesburg that was denied visas. We are hopeful and trusting the Lord for His will in this matter! We would ask that you all make this a special matter of prayer with us!

The need here in South Africa is great, and we are willing laborers for His Harvest! Please pray that the door remains open for the gospel to be preached here in South Africa!

Your Missionaries in South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
southafricamissions.com

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Church, Family, Missions, Prayer Request, South Africa, Updates, Visa, World Evangelism

January 3, 2019 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

10 Manly Things my sons should know before leaving my house… And I am responsible for teaching them!

I have often taken for granted the knowledge that my dad passed down to me through just watching him work in the garage, in the back yard, or even getting ready in the morning. I don’t remember dad saying, “son, let me show you how to check the oil.” Rather, I just remember wanting to be where he was and doing what he did.

The generation in which we live now is much different than the one I grew up in. As a matter of fact, it is more common today to find that “dad” is no where to be found and young men are being raised by mom or grandma. This is even more a reality among the Xhosa people here in South Africa where we minister.

I now have a 10 year old, a 5 year old, and a 2 year old; all boys! I praise the Lord for them! I enjoy hearing them wrestle. I enjoy watching them pick up rocks, or make “stick knives.” I’m glad when they walk in with a scraped up knee from jumping off something they probably shouldn’t had!

I am also very concerned about them being prepared for life! A life, that in many ways, is harder than what I live with. A life that because of society, dilutes and minimizes the importance of being a man. With convenience at our fingertips, safe spaces in which to retreat, and regulations that prevent hurt feelings; is it a wonder that no one knows how to do anything for themselves?!

Below are 10 basic lessons that I want and purpose my sons to know before they leave my house:

  1. Proper personal hygiene. Your body is the temple of God, you are not your own, you are bought with a price! Take care of yourself! There is absolutely no reason at all that a young man should not know how to wash, shave, put on deodorant, or brush his teeth! But these are things that must be taught and I have a responsibility as a dad to teach my boys!
  2. Iron your clothes. Granted, I have a loving, caring, serving wife; and she will make sure that my pants and shirts are ironed! That does not give me an excuse not to know how, and know how to do it right!
  3. Make your bed. Long before the Army taught me to make a bed so tight that you could bounce a quarter off, and long before I knew that the collar of the sheets should be 6 inches in width; my mom and dad taught me to make my bed! I remember as a kid, my favorite part was tucking my 45 degree corners and seeing a crisp, tight crease at the foot!
  4. Cook on a charcoal grill. One of the ways my dad and I bonded was around the grill or in the kitchen. He enjoyed cooking. He really enjoyed smoking meat! I remember on Thanksgiving and Christmas, people from his work placing orders for him to smoke turkeys. Some of the best advice and conversation I ever had was around some hot coals. These are memories that I carry with me to this day!
  5. Drive a manual transmission. “If you can drive a stick, you can drive anything!” These words have stayed with me my whole life. He also taught me, “in most cases, you don’t need 4 wheel drive if you can drive a stick!” That hasn’t always been true for me, but mostly… 🙂
  6. PMCS (Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services) on your car. Again, before the Army showed me how to do PMCS on HUMVEES and the old k5’s; dad and I were working on old CJ 5’s and CJ 7 jeeps. Check the oil, make sure there’s coolant in the radiator, brake fluid, and if you’re fortunate enough, power steering fluid!
  7. Sharpen a knife. This one is a big deal for me, because I love knives! Knives are a tool. They are one of the oldest tools man has been known to use. Today, people think you are crazy if you carry a pocket knife…until they need to cut something, then they ask “anyone have a knife?” I like to carry an opinel #7 because of the good steel (high carbon), the open and close lock position, and they run about $10, so if you lose one or break it, it’s not a big deal. However, a dull knife is a dangerous knife! Learn to keep it sharp! And with certain steels, keep them oiled.
  8. Kill, clean, and cook something. Anything! A fish, a deer, a rabbit…anything! You will appreciate everything about it more! I still remember the first fish Peyton caught. We were with my friend Nathan Gregory in Michigan. It was a great day for Peyton, it was a better day for me!
  9. Accept responsibility, and learn to apologize! Unfortunately, today, everyone else is to blame, someone else owes you something, no one knows what personal responsibility is. When other’s money is used up, when “free” whatever is gone; what will you do? Take responsibility for yourself! Learn to say, “I’m sorry.” Usually, many of our problems can be quickly and quietly fixed with those two words. I think there’s a verse in the Bible about that… “A soft answer turneth away wrath:”? Proverbs 15:1
  10. Teach others also. 2 Tim 2:2 is the crux of my ministry philosophy. Pour my life, bible, character, faithfulness, service, etc. into young men that will be able to teach others as well! Your greatest disciples are your children…teach them! I want my sons to know how to do these basic things as men, but I also want them to be able to teach them to their sons one day! If we are to continue long after we are dead and gone, then the torch must be passed from generation to generation!

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Prayer Letters, Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Character, Discipleship, Discipline, Family, Manhood, Teaching, Thoughts, Training

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 68
  • Next Page »

Receive Our Email Updates

Would you join our prayer team? Just enter your email and we'll send regular updates right to your inbox!

Connect with Us Online

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 · Stephen Underwood · Vision Baptist Missions

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.