Prayer is a fine, delicate instrument. To use it right is a great art, a holy art.
There is perhaps no greater art than the art of prayer.
Yet the least gifted, the uneducated, and the poor can cultivate the holy art of prayer.
O. Hallesby
I am thankful this week, and praising Father for the Care Fresno Sleep over. 19 neighborhood children spent the night in the senior and junior high rooms. Both of those rooms (and the whole church) are still standing. We are planning a very special trip this year - we are planning to take the Kids Klub to Marine World! We are planning to take 50 kids and 12 team leaders. Based on the prices this last year for admission - we will need to raise at least $2,000 to be able to go. Please pray that Father provides this funding - and please support the Kids Klub fund-raising efforts that will begin in November.
I have been blessed to get an e-mail from Charles regarding Chantel. Her recovery is complete and the doctors say she is fine. Charles is requesting the following in prayer: He completed his training in hotels on the 6th of October and is now looking for a job in Paris and a Pastor from SinaV Baptist church, in a suburb of Paris is asking Charles to help him, in giving bible lessons to his church members. Please pray for him as the training is on basic Christian doctrines and other controversial issues.
Bev Willis was in services this past Sonday. I am not sure if this was the first time or not since her knee surgery - but it was the first time that I have seen her! Praise God that Bev’s recovery is going well!
Little Marisela now weighs 3 lbs, 6.5 oz. She is progressing so well that her doctors are talking about her going home in just a couple of weeks. Originally they said that the baby would be in the hospital until December. Thank You, Father, for Your grace and mercy on this little girl!
Ray Callahan, the leader of our Children’s Choir (amongst a multitude of other places he serves), has been getting some flu-like symptoms. Last year these same symptoms developed into pneumonia. Please pray that Ray will get better quickly and that he can bypass the pneumonia completely!
John Roberts, Annie Dennis’ father, is not faring w ell in his battle against cancer. Please pray that he will soon enter into a relationship with Jesus.
Please continue to keep the following in prayer - 2 year old Patrick as he recovers from surgery to remove a brain tumor, Chuck Johnson and his continuing health problems, Julie & her mom with their broken bones; 2 yr old Brandon with his leukemia, Lois Winters and her cancer, Anna Gossen & her mother as Anna prepares to come to Fresno (NEWS UPDATE! I SAW ANNA BRIEFLY TONIGHT AT CHOIR PRACTICE SO SHE IS IN FRESNO! YIPPEE!) and her mother prepares for knee surgery, Jim Hildman and his radiation treatments, Bill Clem and his shoulder, Lillian Seward’s continued recovery, Ray Rahn, Jr with his kidney dialysis, Evelyn Hayhurst with her cancer, Peggy Molander as she undergoes physical therapy, Lois & Dan Hansen and new job for Dan, Cheryl Balestra as she continues her cancer treatments, and Robert Kammer with his sleep apnea. If you have any updates - please send them on.
Please continue to pray for all of our missionaries - Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, Laurie Bethall & Simon in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Dr. George Pe Myat and the hospital in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Please continue to pray for the church plants - The Rock Christian Church in Rio Mesa and The Life House in Reedley. You may recall that last week I reported that although the Life House had found some property that was perfect for their church, the City Council voted against the church on a rezoning issue. Well, as so often happens with anything that a City Council votes on - the story is not over yet. The Life House is going to be able to file some papers and get another shot at having their zoning approved. Please pray that all will go well with the paperwork. Karl & Shelly Roth are now in their new home and the church plant meetings have been moved to Sonday nights at their house. If you are interested in joining this exciting adventure let me know and I will get the address and time to you!
Please continue to keep our upcoming event - the Trunk or Treat - in your prayers. Please contact Marva Ward or Chris Aycock if you can supply candy, funding or a car trunk to this exciting event.
Isn’t it great to have Willie & Joy home from Wisconsin? They had a wonderful time - the leaves turned color while they were there and the weather (during the daytime) was fantastic! Please continue to keep our pastors, leadership, ministries and finances in prayer.
Please lift our country, her leadership and our military in prayer.
Light of the World,
From the moment time began - and even before - You have loved us, cared for us, provided for us. You surround us with Your love - even to the point of sacrificing Your own life for us. You have surrounded us with an earth filled with incredible beauty. You count the very hairs on our head. There is none like You in our lives and we worship You. Thank-You for this incredible life that You have given us. To be Your child - called by Your name - is a joy beyond measure.
We praise You, Abba, for the children who came to the sleep-over. We ask that You bless the leadership team of this ministry with strength and patience as they interact with the children. For many of these children, we are the only Jesus that they are going to see. Help us LORD to reflect only You. Bless the fund-raising efforts of the Kids Klub and grant us the opportunity to go to Marine World.
Holy One, we thank You and praise You for the great news on Chantel’s full recovery. We ask Father that Your hand continue to be on Charles and Chantel as he seeks work. Father, bring him to the job where he can be most effective in Your work. Grant Charles wisdom as he leads this new class. Give him the words that You would have him say.
I was just tickled pink to see Bev in services this past Sonday - I bet You were too! Bless her, LORD God, with continued recovery and growing strength.
Marisela is a miracle, Father, a miracle given by Your hand. We praise Your mighty name for her progress. Continue to bless her and her family, and let her come home soon!
You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of time and of our lives. You already knew us and loved us in our mother’s womb, You will bring us home to You when our earthly life is over. This promise is our hope and our joy.
Healer, we ask that You place Your hand of healing on Ray so that he does not get the pneumonia. Bless him in the many ways that he serves You.
We pray for Your mercy to be upon John Roberts. Holy Spirit, urge him into a relationship with You before it is too late.
Mighty God, we ask Your blessings on all of those for whom we are praying. Guide and strengthen in each of these situations.
We thank You, LORD Jesus, for the missionaries that serve You around the world. Keep them safe, provide for their needs.
King of kings and LORD of lords, You and You alone determine where the Life House church home will be. We don’t decide and that City Council certainly doesn’t decide - You do. We pray that Your will be done and that this issue can be resolved quickly. We pray Your blessings on Horacio and Cheryl at the Life House, we pray Your blessings on Karl and Shelly at the Rock Christian Church. Grant Your power to them as they build these new additions to Your Church.
Jehovah Jirah, Great Provider, we lift up our congregations, our pastors, our leadership and our ministries. Provide for the needs of Your church. Help us to reach out to the world in Your name and in Your power.
The foundation of our lives is knowing that we are Yours. Thank You for loving us so much. We love You and we wait for the time when we will get to take our place around Your throne, to lift our hands to You in love and praise forever.