July Update
Hello RBF supporters - most of you have heard by now about the fire in WI, where my brother Steve and 5 of his family members died. (2 daughters and 3 granddaughters) While it was a tragic loss for his (our) family, it was heaven's gain. We rejoice and grieve at the same time! My brother Steve was the instigator to the RBF - when my son was killed in an auto accident in October of 2006, he suggested starting up a fund that would carry on Russell's commitment to sharing the Gospel.
Let me give you a short summary of the RBF since its beginning in November 2006. Our son Russ was in the Coast Guard and mostly out at sea. He sent his offerings to my brother Steve, a pastor in Green Bay, WI. Steve used the funds to support sharing the Gospel with a growing Hmong population in WI.
The church picked up the ministry and we then moved our funding to supporting the Chinese (in China) to attend the Seminary and plant churches, lead Bible studies, etc. Steve was the president of the Seminary there and became our "boots on the ground", giving us firsthand knowledge and support in dispersing the RBF funds. As you may know, outreach in China (and beyond) became even more dicey, dangerous and further persecuted.
Steve was moved to Thailand, where he and wife Mary served a team that supports, I believe to date, 10+ countries. The need is great, the harvest ripe and God has opened doors and windows for the spread of His Gospel!!! Steve has been our "boots on the ground" as well as several others. They have had our COMPLETE trust and have been our eyes, ears, feet and hands, using their Holy Spirit inspired wisdom and discernment to send the RBF monies where needed most. I spoke with Steve often as he ran needs, situations, tactics, people, and more by me and Drew....then we prayerfully dispersed the funds. I will close with a few bullet points about the RBF as I am getting a bit "wordy"
YES! we are continuing to spread the Gospel thru the RBF following Steve's death and will continue to have Holy Spirit filled "boots on the ground"
The RBF is a FUND (not foundation) = no board. This actually makes the monies fluid and fairly easily accessible when the needs arise (thanks to Dawn, who has worked to figure out HOW to get monies into some of these countries... not easy!)
100% of donations go into the fund since we have no overhead or board or whatever
100% of donations are tax deductible since they run through our church
100% of donations are for SHARING the Gospel - taking the precious message of salvation to the lost!!!
The goal of the RBF is to FOLLOW where God is working, where the doors and windows are opening
Donate by going to www.russellbuckfund.com or click this link.
That's about all I can think of for now - thanks to ya'll who have prayed for our family in this time of loss/grief, mingled with JOY. (my 6 family members are home safe!)
Thanks to our faithful/faith-filled RBF donors, we are sending $10,000 to the brand new Steve Witte Scholarship Memorial Fund to fund the Asian evangelists attending Seminary. We pray for this ongoing ministry that the RBF was privileged to fund for almost 20 years!
What future plans does God have for dispersing RBF monies? Only HE knows and we will attempt to "keep up with HIM"! HIS plans are always perfect, perfectly timed, perfectly executed! We covet your prayers for the BEST use of the RBF funds as well as all those God is bringing to Himself through the LIVING WORD.
To God be the glory - Sharon Buck
p.s. I have answered the question "What could be more horrible than for 6 family members to die in a fire?" with: "Simple - one soul destined for an eternity in hell fire!"
