Praise and Prayer for February 28, 2011

The children were home this week for winter break from school (they have one more week off). This gave us some extra time with them and opened the way for us to be able to take part in some special occasions this week. After Bible study Tuesday evening we learned that one of our dear friends from Nancy had gone to be with the Lord that morning. We were able to travel to Nancy to attend the funeral services on Friday afternoon for Mrs. Charlotte Itty, where everyone present was challenged by her testimony of love and faithfulness to her Lord. On Wednesday afternoon, our family had joined others in our church family here to visit a lady who is shut-in and lives with her daughter who attends faithfully. On Thursday, we had the opportunity to take dinner to the home of one of the families that hasn’t been in church for several weeks due to the wife’s high-risk pregnancy. I took a lady from Romania and all her luggage to catch a bus back home on Saturday morning. We had time to visit and pray as we waited for an hour before the bus came, pacing the sidewalk to stay warm.

A young lady from China gave her salvation testimony Sunday morning, and shared her desire to join the church. After the service on Sunday it was encouraging to hear several comments on how the Lord had used the message to challenge hearts in specific ways. I had preached on reasons why God sometimes chooses not to answer our prayers the way we think He should. We were very encouraged to see the excellent participation Sunday in the information meeting for all the teachers and helpers who are involved in our Sunday school program. God is blessing as new leaders grow in their roles, and many members work together to do this important ministry.

Thank you for praying for God’s leading regarding our future ministry. Through a number of ways He has shown us that it is not possible for us to return to the CAR for ministry next term, as we had thought previously. We have sensed clearly His leading to proceed from “on-loan from CAR to France” status to an official assignment to France. We are excited about the opportunities that God has given us here in France and about the opportunities that He has for us in the future. Thank you for continuing to keep our future ministry in your prayers!

Praise for:

- special opportunities God gave this week to share His love, to encourage and to challenge others on several occasions.

- better health this week and for God’s help for Jonathan in preparation and in preaching on Tuesday and Sunday.

- God’s work in C’s life and for her desire to join the church.

- God’s working in hearts.

- the clear testimony of Mrs. Charlotte Itty and the challenge that was shared at her funeral to a full auditorium.

- the way God is blessing the church here, especially through the participation of many in the Sunday school program.

Pray for:

- us to see and use the opportunities that God gives us this week to share His love and His Word with others.

- S. and her family, for God’s grace and protection as she goes through a very high-risk pregnancy.

- the family of Mrs. Itty, for God’s comfort and guidance.

- faithfulness and blessing for each one involved in ministries at church.

- Cherith’s sister, Hadessah, as she leaves for her field of service this week to begin her first ministry assignment.

- our family to be able to get rid of the stuffy nose and cold symptoms that continue to make the rounds in our family.

- preparations for our time of home ministry this summer and fall, and for our future ministry in France.

Praise and Prayer for February 21, 2011

I have continued to fight some type of bug, which has taken a lot of my strength and left me tired and uncomfortable. Yet God has provided strength as necessary and given Cherith and the kids good health. We rejoice that there were 25 present for prayer meeting Tuesday evening, including three kids, under 10 years of age. For the first time, Adrianna looked up passages and filled in a copy of the handout, and even volunteered to read Rev. 21:1-3 (and did a very fine job – in French). On Thursday evening, I attended the Parent/Teacher counsel meeting for Adrianna’s school, then left a few minutes early to get home in time for our English Encounter. It was great to have three visitors this week.

Sunday morning, seven of the children were eager to quote new verses. One of them finished the whole pack of 13 verses Sunday, and was willing to begin another packet with more verses! We met with the leaders of the Sunday school ministry after church Sunday and they will be meeting with all of the teachers and helpers next week to go over some reminders and details of the program. We are so encouraged at the way the Lord is helping to grow and strengthen this aspect of the church ministries.

Praise for:

- the strength that God has given, especially as I continue to fight a bug.

- the good attendance in prayer meeting, including three children!

- a good EE Thursday evening, and for the 3 visitors present.

- a number of first time visitors in church Sunday, including some from CAR.

- seven kids quoting verses Sunday in our memory verse challenge.

- the further contacts this week through the kids’ schools.

Pray for:

- the return of visitors in our English Encounter and in our church services.

- the children as they memorize God’s Word, that it’s truths would be understood and applied.

- Jonathan’s preparation and preaching Tuesday and Sunday.

- restored health and strength for Jonathan.

- opportunities to show God’s love to those around us.

- preparations for our time of home ministry this summer and fall.

Praise and Prayer for February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine’s Day! One of the greatest blessings that we enjoy is the love that we share both for the Lord and for one another. And we are acutely aware that the love we know is because of the love and grace that God showed to us first in giving His Son (Jn 3:16). How we thank Him for His Gift. Yesterday in the primary Sunday School class, one of the boys prayed to receive this Gift. We pray that G’s decision was genuine and that God will help his faith to grow. It was very encouraging to hear of this decision on a day when the attendance in his class was the biggest it has been, perhaps in years. There were 12 primaries present! We are confident that God was working in hearts among the adults in the auditorium as well. Attendance was good for the baptismal service, and included unsaved friends and family members. The testimonies, special music, baptism and message combined to give a clear message of God’s love for us despite our sin, and our need to respond to Him in obedience.

The church counsel met with the counsel from the church in Chalons at 10 a.m. Saturday. The meeting/fellowship continued even when I had to leave about 3:30 p.m. to come home to help Cherith. Besides having the three kids home all day, she was also preparing a main dish and cookies for the fellowship dinner Sunday and getting Adrianna’s room ready for an overnight guest. We had our company coming for supper and a time of counsel and prayer. On Friday, the Lord gave us a good visit with one of the hurting members.

Praise for:

- the profession of faith by an eight year old boy Sunday and the good attendance in Sunday School, including the family that we spoke about last week.

- the baptism of S and S Sunday and for all who heard the Good News.

- all of the kids who are doing well with their Scripture memorization, including several who quoted verses to us on Sunday.

- the strength and health the Lord gave for a busy week, though Jonathan could tell he was fighting something.

- the help that God gives as we counsel and encourage others.

Pray for:

- G, for growth for this brand new child of God.

- God’s continued working in the lives of those present Sunday.

- Jonathan as he prepares to preach this Sunday and for Tuesday Bible study.

- our English Encounter this Thursday evening.

- opportunities to show God’s love to those around us.

- preparations for our time of home ministry this summer and fall.

Praise and Prayer for February 7, 2011

The Lord has given strength and better health for which we thank Him, though Cherith’s sinus cold continues to linger after two weeks. We know people are praying and God is working. On Tuesday evening, there was a good gathering for prayer meeting as we met in the church auditorium for the first time, due to the numbers that have been coming and the crowded space upstairs. This is a big change for everyone, but we praise the Lord that prayer meeting attendance has grown to require such a change!

The field trips gave some good opportunity to connect with others, and some teaching on evolution has instigated some conversations about Creation between Adrianna and some friends.

On Sunday morning, we were happy to see a Central African family that we haven’t seen in several months. Their three older children came to Sunday School and along with the parents, gladly accepted the verse packets with the memory verse challenge. In SS opening exercises, several of the kids quoted new verses (John 3:16 for the younger class and 2 Corinthians 12:9 for the older ones). The family mentioned above was back for the Sango service in the evening. There were also three university students present, two of whom have been coming to church recently.

Praise for:

- the good attendance in prayer meeting making it necessary to move our meetings to the auditorium.

- opportunities to witness.

- the family that was back to church on Sunday, and for the children who are participating in the memory verse challenge.

- F, a young man at the Sango service for the first time in our church.

- a good English Encounter Thursday evening with 6 present.

- better health this week and for the strength that God gives.

Pray for:

- wisdom as we give counsel and encouragement to several individuals this week.

- two families with children in SS that were absent Sunday.

- individuals attending our Sango service with special, challenging needs.

- Jonathan as he meets with the church counsel this Saturday. For some of the time they will be meeting with counsel members from a sister church in Chalons for encouragement and planning.

- the baptism this coming Sunday of two recent converts. We anticipate a number of unsaved family members and friends being present. Pray that God will use the testimonies of these young people to speak to hearts regarding decisions that need to be made.

- direction for our future as the Lord guides us step by step.