Prayer and praise update January 11, 2017

Happy New Year!   We are so thankful for God’s help and blessings in 2016.  I am still adjusting to this New Year and I’m so thankful that despite all the turmoil and change in this world, God has not changed one iota and He has not given up on us, or our world.  What does He have planned for us this year?  How will He surprise us this year?  As we think over this past year, we are amazed at some of the ways that God has worked.  Even the way He has lead some people to our church while others have left has surprised us.  He keeps reminding us to keep our attention focused on Him, and to not be swayed by the circumstances.  He is God and He is faithful. He is sovereign. He is wise and He is good.

 At church, we rejoice in seeing God working in the hearts of several unsaved people that are attending.  Just Sunday, an unsaved man attended the Bible study hour (he’d come one other time).  We have been greatly blessed by having the displaced family among us.  They do have special needs including permanent housing, and with no car are dependent on us or our teammates to drive them to our church services and activities.  They are believers and show great joy in the Lord and His Word, despite the great trials that they are facing. 

This past Friday, we had 22 people present for our English club outreach, including 10 who are not saved.  Two of them were a friend of Josiah from school and his younger sister.  Their Mom had heard about the club from the mother of another of Josiah’s friends who has been coming. She approached us before Christmas to ask about it and if her child(ren) could participate.  The parents are not believers but they were willing, even favorable to have their children come and learn the Bible lessons that we are teaching.  We are so grateful for this opportunity to teach God’s Truth and for His blessing. 

Praise for:

- those who are attending church services and Bible studies and English outreach faithfully, a number of whom are searching spiritually.

- the opportunity to help the R family move to Saint Médard, and for their deepening spiritual understanding.

- the good attendance of the Christmas outreach film, including neighbors of several of our families (including one of our neighbors).

- the opportunities that we have had around the holidays to share goodies and Scripture calendars with neighbors, teachers and other contacts.

- a special Gingerbread house decorating party with the children from church and their families.

- renewed contact with another former classmate of Jonathan’s from language school days.

- a blessed New Years Eve service at a sister church where people from three churches met to celebrate God’s blessings and seek His guidance.

Pray for:

- God’s Truth to penetrate the hearts of those who are searching.

- for God’s guidance for us as we interact with those around us, as we prepare for teaching and preaching ministries and as we share.

- God to use the goodies and especially the Gospel calendars that we have shared this year to point people to Him.

- God’s leading and provision of a new building for our church.

- our children to continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord and in His wisdom.

- us as parents to faithfully model and teach the truths of God’s Word to our children.

- more good contacts with former unsaved classmates, and for God’s wisdom in communication.