Remember to pray for Betty Simpson as she has knee surgery today.

One more reminder – Pray for Mrs. Anne Hurst as she travels to Haiti today as part of a mission team.

~1 Peter 2:17b (MSG)~

I know Mrs. Faye Price loved her physical and spiritual family.  Yesterday, it was very obvious that both her physical and spiritual family loved her.  What a special lady and what a large, loving physical and spiritual family!

David and I both enjoyed seeing the family pictures on the screen at church yesterday.  Our favorite was the one of her with a big smile and both hands spread out.  I can just picture her in heaven with those arms spread out for hugs as she meets family and friends already there.  I know she will be there to meet other family members and friends with her loving hugs as they join her in heaven.

Linda Hughes Benefield

I talked to Mom and Dad today and they told me Linda is in the hospital in Hickory, North Carolina.

She has an infected gall bladder and pancreas. They are treating the infection and when it has cleared up, they will operate to take out her gall bladder. They said she was luck with her pancreas.

They might operate on Thursday or Friday, that is Daddy said. He will keep me updated on any new developements. We would appreciate any and all prayers for her and her recovery.

Cheryl Hughes Greene

Cheryl’s son, John, is having four wisdom teeth removed today and Cheryl’s sister is in the hospital facing gall bladder surgery later this week.  I think we need to pray for Cheryl too.

Continue to pray for my  Texas cousin, Micah (22), who has a brain tumor as he faces surgery.  Pray for his family as they gather to support him and each other during this time.

Caring Bridge

• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris
• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adriannacavanagh

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions

Off the beaten path

Craig and Suzy Miles represent Christ through service, evangelism and discipleship to reach the longtrail hiking community trekking the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail (AT).
By Adam Miller and Mickey Noah

“It’s not until about mile 500 that they start to listen,” says North American Mission Board Mission Service Corps missionary Suzy Miles. “Before that, they’re superheroes.”

MSC missionaries Craig and Suzy Miles started Appalachian Trail Servants (AT Servants) six years ago so they could help represent Christ through service, evangelism and discipleship to reach the longtrail hiking community trekking the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail (AT).

The couple has hiked about 1,000 miles of the trail themselves, and visited most of its length to conduct ministry training to churches near trailheads and to minister to hikers through acts of kindness.

The Mileses are two of more than 5,300 missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®. They are among the NAMB missionaries featured as part of the annual Week of Prayer, March 7-14, 2010. This year’s theme is “Live with Urgency: Share God’s Transforming Power.” The 2010 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering’s goal is $70 million.

As NAMB Mission Service Corps missionaries, the Mileses must raise their own support among family, friends and related churches. Although they are self-funded, they also receive additional support – such as training, administrative support and field ministry assistance – from the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

The Appalachian Trail is a marked, yard-wide footpath winding through the Appalachian Mountains from Springer Mountain in north Georgia to Mount Katahdin in central Maine. Conceived in 1921 and completed in 1937, it passes through 14 states. More than four million people hike some part of the trail each year, and another 2,000 “thru-hikers” attempt to go the entire distance.

Suzy grew up in Dahlonega, Ga., with a family and a father who took hikers in, fed them and shared with them the truth about Christ.

A native of Stone Mountain, Ga., Craig had already earned a degree in economics at the University of Georgia and seminary master’s degrees when he met Suzy. Suzy had been the hiker in her family and shortly after, the couple and her family began hiking almost every weekend in the North Georgia mountains.

At the time he met Suzy, Miles was working in information technology for a regional bank but believed he had a higher calling.

One morning on the way to work, he stopped by his Baptist church and prayed a simple prayer: “Lord, how can you use our time and talents for your glory?” God was about to answer Craig’s prayer.

“Right after I prayed that prayer, I spotted a missionary magazine on a table next to me,” Miles said. “On the cover was a story about extreme hiking in China. It just clicked in my head that we needed to start a ministry on the Appalachian Trail. Suzy and I were seeing hundreds of hikers pass over the roads and trails and through the woods of north Georgia, but we knew their spiritual needs were not being met.”

Miles and Suzy married and now six years later, their home and ministry are based in Franklin, N.C., only a short drive from a major Appalachian Trail trailhead. With two infant children and an expanding ministry, they continue to serve hikers but are beginning to focus their attention on training churches and leaders who have a heart for hikers.

Hikers are a subculture, Miles said, and most of them use trail names rather than their own. The Mileses are no different.

Craig’s trail name is “Clay,” taken from Romans 9:21, which describes God as the potter molding the clay. Suzy’s is “Branch,” which comes from John 15:5 where Jesus refers to Himself as the vine and believers as branches.

Whether simply hiking on a crisp autumn weekend or thru-hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, the sport is not for the faint-of-heart. Backpacks containing tents, sleeping bags, food, clothes, first-aid and water purification equipment can weigh 35 lbs. or more.

In addition to the obvious physical and mental challenges, other hazards include severe weather, Lyme disease, steep grades, limited water and poison ivy.

“Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail takes a tremendous commitment of time and resources,” Miles said. “And the hardest part is not the physical aspect but the mental. Within the first 30 miles, 20 percent drop out. By North Carolina, 50 percent have dropped out. By West Virginia, 75 percent have quit. Only 15 percent of those who start in Georgia make it to the peak of Mount Katahdin in Maine.”

To reach these hearty souls, the Mileses have focused their efforts on training churches and trail chaplains—a select position with AT Servants that requires a mature walk with Christ, a missionary mindset and the ability to walk thousands of miles under often heavy loads.

“We receive dozens of applications every year, but only one or two meet the criteria,” Craig said.

Trail chaplains, which have the greatest direct impact on hikers, trudge the 2,175 miles with every ounce of gear any other hiker would carry and with a goal of enjoying the journey and reaching the end. But chaplains sit around shelters and campfires with the purpose of representing Christ, answering hard questions from thoughtful, hurting people and walking alongside those same people for days, weeks and months.

In 2005, recent college graduate Jonathan Carter finished his stint as a trail chaplain. In October 2009, Joel and Cortney Leachman completed their journey. Both of these projects created entree into very difficult seasons of people’s lives, and resulted in several hikers receiving Christ.

The Mileses believe God gives Christians divine appointments, and they should expect them and take advantage of them.

“We pray for and expect a daily divine appointment during which we might be able to share our testimonies, answer difficult theological questions, provide counsel or share the Gospel,” Craig said, recounting his and Suzy’s experience on the trail.

He recalled a sudden evening thunderstorm that drove him, Suzy and a group of fellow hikers into the closest trail shelter for protection against a cold, stinging rain.

“Since the next shelter was 10 miles away and none of us wanted to brave the cold rain to get there, we stopped and shared the same shelter for the night. This gave us an opportunity to strike up some spiritual conversation,” he said. “This was a divine appointment.” Still on the lookout for divine appointments, Craig and Suzy cultivate the soil of the hiker community with a sense of urgency for those churches and individuals with a heart for hikers.

“We have an amazing opportunity,” says Suzy. “If we can represent Christ to someone during a critical few months on the trail, we can see Christ change them for a lifetime.”

Adam Miller and Mickey Noah are writers for the North American Mission Board.

Have a wonderful Wednesady!

Anna Lee

that your love may abound still more and more

in knowledge and all discernment.”

~Philippians 1:9~

Please put my son, John on the prayer list. He is having four wisdom teeth removed tomorrow. They are sideways and are shifting his jaw teeth. God bless.

Thanks, Cheryl (Hughes Greene)

Caring Bridge

• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris

Velma B. Noel
(October 24, 1939 – March 8, 2010)

Mrs. Velma B. Noel a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister was born October 24, 1939 and passed away at 12:43 a.m., Monday, March 8, 2010 at Hood Memorial Hospital, Amite. She was 70, a native of Lockport, LA and resident of Amite.

Mrs., Velma is survived by husband, Gerald Noel, Amite; 2 daughters, Connie B. Lee and husband, Norman, Jr., LaRose and Pam B. Rousse and husband, Carl, Amite: 2 sons, Joey J. Brunet and wife, Kim, Amite and Mark J. Brunet, Amite; step-son, Mark Noel and wife, Katrina, Baton Rouge; 6 sisters, Wilma Wheelis and husband, Bill, Gretna, Thelma Gisclair, LaRose, Irene Badeaux and husband, Erwin, Sr., LaRose, Deborah Leonard and husband, Zachary, LaRose, Belinda Rodrigue, LaRose and Linda Orgeron and husband, Dean, LaRose; 2 brothers, Michael Adams and wife, Gisele, LaRose and Mickey Adams and wife, Donna, LaRose; “T-Bull” was also survived by 25 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and “1″ on the way.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Whitney J. and Agatha J. Verdin Adams; 1st husband, Herman P. Brunet, Sr.; 2 sons, Herman P. Brunet, Jr. and Alfred Brunet; daughter, Wanda “Sweetie” Hardin; brother, Mark J. Adams.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 3:00 p.m. with Bro. Jimmie Downing and Bro. Jake Williams officiating. Interment in the Colonial Mausoleum, Independence, LA.

An on-line Guestbook and to view a Video Tribute is available at www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N and Hwy 16W behind Bill Hood Automotive and Mr. Tom’s Car Wash.

Mrs. Faye Price’s obituary and picture

http://www.mckneelys.com/index.cfm

Please pray for this family today and in the coming days as their life is rearranged again.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Multihousing is her mission field in Missouri
Vivian McCaughan works to facilitate and strengthen church starts among the multihousing communities of Missouri.
By Laura Sikes

As Missions/Evangelism team leader for Missouri Baptist Convention, NAMB missionary Vivian McCaughan logs about 3,000 miles a month traveling the state. She makes a stop at Holts Summit Mobile Home Trailer Park on her way to Jefferson City. It was in this community that McCaughan  started backyard Bible clubs when she was an elementary school teacher for 12 years at Calloway Hills Elementary. Some of her students lived in the trailer park. With 37% of the state’s population living in multihousing, she carries a burden for reaching people where they are. Vivian McCaughan meets with Theresa and Curtis Smith at the Metro North Family Ministry Center in North St. Louis County, which serves about 450 people monthly in an inner-city neighborhood. Children and adults from the Bolivar Road Apartments in Springfield, Mo., come once a week to Bible class and music led by volunteers with Lifebuilders Ministries. The 90- unit apartment complex is largely populated by single mothers and their children. The volunteers come from local churches in the Greene County Baptist Association to work with an average of 30 residents. Vivian McCaughan visits LINC, a ministry of Christian Family Fellowship at Hidden Valley Estates in Wentzville, Mo. The community center which serves the complex¹s 600 residents offers daycare for infants to 5-year-olds, an after school reading and sports program,  GED and pre-college tutoring, mentoring and cooking classes and fragile family counseling. Vivian McCaughan loves to visit the daycare program at Hidden Valley Estates. She misses the hands-on experience with children and hopes to lead a music program for them.

North American Mission Board missionary Vivian McCaughan enters Hidden Valley Estates in Wentzville, Mo., and thanks God for the changes she sees.

Vivian points out the new community center, the tidy landscaping and the covered pavilion built on the dusty spot where outdoor baptisms once took place in a rented cattle tank.

But mostly, she thanks God for transformed lives. She remembers back almost 20 years ago when she first saw the 200-unit apartment community as a suffering mass of humanity. In those days, the complex was infested with drugs and crime.

McCaughan got behind the work begun in 1990 by Pastor Dan Hite and 45 members of Christian Family Fellowship, which began its ministry by serving a Thanksgiving meal to 230 residents. The Twin Rivers Baptist Association had targeted the complex as a strategic focus area. In those early days, McCaughan taught children and women and helped to make connections with churches and resources, according to Hite. “She became our greatest cheerleader.”

By the next year at Thanksgiving, the new church served 350. It also ran a week-long Life Fair ministry, holding various life skills workshops for adults, VBS for the children and ended the week with a Christian concert. Hite said management noticed a significant drop in the number of complaint calls to the police and to the complex’s office that week—down from 40 calls to just two.

The complex manager later called Hite and said, “I don’t know what you did but all I know is I want you here all the time.” That week, the church saw 123 professions of faith and would later rent a cattle tank for outdoor baptisms in the middle of the community.

After meeting for those first years at a nearby dance school, the church now meets in a community center built on 11 acres bought in 1996. The center serves the community’s 600 residents — consisting of a majority of single mothers and children —  and offers daycare for infants up to five-year-olds, an after-school reading and sports program, GED and pre-college tutoring, mentoring, cooking classes and fragile family counseling.

Serving as the North American Mission Board’s multihousing/church planting missionary to Missouri and as the Missouri Baptist Convention’s missions/evangelism team leader, McCaughan sees a huge mission field in multihousing communities.

Vivian McCaughan is one of some 5,300 missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Missions. She is among the North American Mission Board missionaries featured as part of the annual Week of Prayer, March 7-14, 2010. This year’s theme is “Live with Urgency: Share God’s Transforming Power.” The 2010 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering’s goal is $70 million, 100 percent of which benefits missionaries like McCaughan.

In Missouri, where 37 percent of its population of 5.9 million lives in multihousing, her job is not a small one. She says that every county in Missouri has some type of multihousing facility, whether an apartment or condominium complex, an inner-city housing project, a mobile home park, cluster homes, duplexes or blocks of homes that are subdivided. And 97 percent of the residents who live in multihousing are unchurched, according to a national NAMB study.

McCaughan says among these unchurched multihousing residents, studies show that generally 40 percent will go to a Bible study or worship experience on the property, but that only three or four percent of residents will attend a church off the grounds.

After ministries are launched on the multihousing properties, she says, “the ultimate goal is to hold Bible studies and worship experiences on the property and to have a long-term presence.

“The long-term presence on the property is a body of believers. It may not have

a church-looking facility, but having that body of believers who come together on that property is our goal, ” she said.

“The biggest fallacy in multihousing/church planting is that people think it can happen overnight, and they are willing to jump in and go into a community for a week, two weeks, maybe even for a year,” she says.

McCaughan stresses that missions is all about building relationships over time.

“In some instances, it may take five or 10 years for a church plant to take hold so that the residents see it as their church and their mission field. It’s a long-time process.”

But McCaughan has always had a passion for reaching people where they are.

“We (the church) have to figure out that we’ve got to go where the people are,” she says.

Though McCaughan was appointed as a missionary in 1988 by the former Home Mission Board, NAMB’s predecessor, it wasn’t the first time she had done missions in multihousing.

As an elementary school teacher, she soon realized many of her students had no church affiliation. She had some students who lived in a trailer home park, so she came up with the idea to hold backyard Bible clubs for three consecutive summers. The first summer, two summer missionaries helped her. They had 87 children and 27 of them received Christ.

“Back then,” she jokes, “I didn’t even know what multihousing was.” Later, her pastor asked her to consider working in the field.

Today, McCaughan works with leaders and volunteers in 20 year-round, established multihousing ministries, and with another 30 or so properties with seasonal ministries.

Encouraging churches and leaders in the state’s 63 associations to see their opportunities to serve and to support them with resources for multihousing/church planting is one of McCaughan’s main responsibilities. Her other assignments include serving as coordinator for WMU/ Women’s Missions and Ministry, Heartcall Evangelism and World Hunger. And she leads a ministry for wives of pastors and the state’s 56 directors of missions (DOMs).

Her long to-do list usually rests on the console of her car —  her “office” — as she logs about 3,000 miles monthly, roaming the state from her Missouri Baptist Convention office in Jefferson City and from her home in St. Charles, visiting DOMs, state and associational ministries. She keeps in contact with the DOMs and their wives through emails, phone calls and notes when she cannot visit in person.

McCaughan’s missionary plate is full, but all the work fits together and does not deter her, even though at times she admits that if she thinks too much about all of her responsibilities, she “may panic or even feel sick to her stomach.” That’s understandable.

In 2007, Vivian was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and after surgery and radiation, she recently completed two years of chemotherapy. At first, McCaughan says she worried more about how husband Jim would handle her cancer since his first wife — the mother of his three children — died with cancer. She says she’s grateful that tiredness is the main side effect from the treatment, but she continues to work her busy schedule.

“I lost my hair and wear a wig now, but no big deal,” she admits.

Missions is what McCaughan was made for. She says it’s in her DNA. After all, her father was a pastor widely known in Missouri for his missions heart.

Before receiving her call to missions at 13, as a young girl, McCaughan traveled the highways and back roads of Missouri — much like she does now — only then she accompanied her father when he served on the state’s missions staff and as a church pastor.

Routinely, McCaughan makes the drive from Lebanon to Springfield to visit Bolivar Road Apartments. There, she meets with Winston Barnett, pastor and executive director of Lifebuilders Ministry, which in 2008 began an outreach program in the 90-unit complex largely populated by single mothers and children. Serving with volunteers from four local churches from the Greene County Baptist Association, the ministry runs a weekly Bible study for adults and children, averaging about 30 in attendance.

Like McCaughan, Barnett hopes that more churches will see multihousing communities as their mission field.

Letting people know she cares is important to McCaughan. “We have to earn the right to share Christ,” she says.

On a recent visit to a local restaurant McCaughan frequents with husband Jim, a waitress stops by her table to tell her she is excited about this coming Sunday’s church service at her complex. After not having a church home for quite some time, the waitress plans to visit and consider joining the church.

The waitress then told McCaughan how she has always appreciated the couple’s encouragement and friendliness over the years, and thanked her for the notes and Christian pamphlets they usually left behind with their tip.

One business card they left simply said, “Introducing Jesus to you is the best way I know to say thank you.”

Be careful in the rain today!

Anna Lee

‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

~Matthew 4:4b, NKJV~

Pray for Eddie Keith Schwartz as he has an outpatient eye procedure this morning at 7 A.M.  He will really appreciate your prayers.

Pray for Betty Simpson as she has knee surgery Wednesday at 10:30.  She also will be appreciative of your prayers.

Rev. Tom Higginbothan had a heart problem a week ago.  I forgot to add his name at the time, but he has a stent and is doing well.

Ben Trappey and Emily will be going on their medical mission trip to Haiti today.  They will appreciate your prayers for them and the work they will do.  Mrs. Anne Hurst will leave Wednesday for her mission trip to Haiti.  Thank you in advance for praying for her and the three others who will be traveling with her.

Caring Bridge

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Week of Prayer

http://www.onmission.com/site/c.cnKHIPNuEoG/b.5818451/k.F300/Capturing_the_heart_of_the_next_generation.htm

Devotional

http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/

Have a great week!

Anna Lee

Called home on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 11:50AM, Faye Marie Tigner Price was a native of Riverton, AL and a resident of Kentwood. “Miss” Faye was well known to many, as she worked in the medical field for many years. She was an employee of Pike Memorial Hospital, Kentwood Medical Clinic and Lab Corp. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Kentwood and loved her church family dearly. She loved sewing, quilting, and traveling. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she cared for many along the way. she is survived by her children, Henry and Virginia McKenzie, Dennis and Shari Price, Phil and Sue Connelly. Grandchildren Jody and Laura DeBlanc, Mike and Lisa Neyland, Leslie and Stephanie McKenzie, Cassie McCullough, and Haley McCullough, Nick and Toni Cathy, Craig and Nickie Berberette, and Lovie Jo Connelly, their children, Ashlyn, Aaron, and Allye DeBlanc, Eli and Max Neyland, Erica and Emilie McKenzie, Gabe Simpson, Sidney, Drew, and Sam Cathy, Alayna Braden, and Josh Berberette. She is also survived by two sisters, Betty Blades, Natalbany, and Dennis and Martha Wall, Osyka, MS, numerous nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Edmond L. Price, her parents, John L. Tigner and Josie R. Tigner, two brothers, Millard Reeves, and Ray Neal Tigner, and one sister, Ozell A. Pendley. “Miss” Faye was well loved and will be missed by many. Pallbearers are Marshall Cutrer, Mark Womack, Sydney Hughes, Hubert Yarborough, Jo White, and Mike Neyland. Honoray pallbearers are Ronald Alford and Stephen Achord. Visitation at First Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 9 a.m. on Tuesday until religious services at 12 Noon Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

sometimes one way and sometimes another—

even though people may not understand it.”

~Job 33:14 (NCV)~

My cousin, Micah (Texas)

Micah has been transferred to another hospital.  Another MRI is scheduled for tomorrow.  The results of the MRI will determine the next step.  Please be in prayer for Micah, his parents who are both sick with serious chronic illnesses, the other family members, and the medical staff as decisions are made about Micah’s care.

Micah’s great aunt and uncle has returned to the the mission field.  Pray for them as the determine the needs and try to meet them.  Frances and Gene have served the Lord many years and are not letting their age or health issues stop them now.

Wayne and Mary Criswell

Brent and Brenna picked us up in N.O. about 4:30 and we are at home in Hammond. It is so good to be back.
Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers
Mary

Caring Bridge

• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole
• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adriannacavanagh

(I think I already posted the link for Adrianna, but am posting it again just in case I didn’t post it earlier.)

There are no official arrangements for Mrs. Faye Price yet.  I’ll post them when they become available.

Today begin the Week of Prayer for North American missions.  We will begin collecting the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering today.

Jim and Myrtle Ballard

http://www.anniearmstrong.com/site/pp.asp?c=8oILLTOqGnF&b=5723865

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

ask him . . .

but if you don’t ask in faith,

don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.”

~James 1:5-6 (LB)~

Shelby Roberts, a student at Sumner, has a rash, not cancer as the doctor first thought.  Thank God for a good report from the doctor.  (Selena Morgan)

GWENDOLYN BEAN

Gwendolyn Lawson Bean, 72, of Gillsburg, died March 4, 2010, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, La.

Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home in McComb and continues Sunday at Gillsburg Baptist Church from 1 p.m. until services there at 2. The Rev. Alton Foster, the Rev. Chris Teasley and the Rev. Walt Gaston will officiate. Burial will be in Gillsburg Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Bean was born March 31, 1937, in Gillsburg, to Ed and Dalene Hughes Lawson.

She was a homemaker and was an active member of Gillsburg Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for 45 years and served as vacation Bible school director. She also served as GA leader, was active in WMU, served on the hostess committee and was a member of the church choir. She was a member of the Sweet Spirit Singers and was chosen as the Enterprise-Journal’s 1998 Mother of the Year.

Mrs. Bean was very dedicated to her family, church and Amite School Center, where she worked as a Booster Club member.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Willie J. “Billy” Bean Sr.; brothers-in-law, John H. “Bubber” White and Edwin Lee Bean Sr.; and sister-in-law, Judy Lawson.Survivors include three sons and a daughter-in-law, Willie J. “Billy” Bean Jr. of Gillsburg, Barry and Roxanne Bean of Ridgeland and Tim Bean of Gillsburg; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Dan Brewer of Gillsburg and Robin and Kyle Kent of Mandeville, La.; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Max and Kay Lawson, and Paul Lawson, all of Gillsburg; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Sue White of McComb, Joan Lawson of Brookhaven, Burma and Walter Carpenter of Gillsburg and Mildred and Ray Miller of Line Creek; two sisters-in-law, Nellie Bean Hale of Gillsburg and Jean Haney and husband Seth of Lafayette, La.; seven grandchildren, Brooke Harden, Brittan Ann Harden, Shannon Bean, Brent Bean, Brandon Kent, Brennan Kent and Blair Kent; three great-grandchildren, Brayden, Braxden and Bryson Havard and numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.Pallbearers will be Ed Bean, Brad Bean, Maxwell Lawson Jr., Walter Carpenter Jr. Michael Lawson, Toby Miller and Rusty Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Newman, Bob Matthew, Dr. Harry Frye, Hugh Ray Hughes, Donald Chase and Vernon Lee Carter.

The family wishes to thank the staff at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston and Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Saux and his staff in Covington, La.

Memorials may be sent to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attention Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX, 75265-0309 or visit Komenmd.org.

To share sympathies, condolences and memories, go to Hartman-Sharkeyfuneralhome.com.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

A CERTAIN YOUNG man worked in a factory where heavy machinery rattled the entire building…

Not liking the jarring, he brought a rubber mat to the factory and stood on it.  The vibrations no longer bothered him as they once had.  However, after several days, someone stole his mat.  He responded by getting two pieces of rubber and nailing them to his heels.  He now had two little rubber mats that no one could steal and that went with him everywhere.  The name of the young man was O’Sullivan, the original inventor of rubber heels.

Like this young man, we as Christians have that which protects us against the jarring of the world.  It is called prayer, and it goes with us everywhere.  (Wade Webster, cf., Stephen R. Covey, Everyday Greatness, p. 220)

“Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, . . .

that utterance may be given to me,

that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, . . .

that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

~Ephesians 6:17-20~

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Friday, March 5, 2010

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying

and singing hymns of praise to God,

and the prisoners were listening to them.”

~Acts 16:25, NASB~

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, praying with you for believers facing persecution.

A national church planter and another church member were arrested and have been held without charge for several weeks. Police confiscated Bibles, other Christian literature, and a computer. The authorities began questioning the other church members. Christians are usually held only a few days, so the church planter’s wife asks for continued prayer that the authorities would free her husband soon. She asks special prayer for one of her children whom this is affecting deeply.

Recently one of the local Deccani Muslim church planters was taken from his family to a local mosque and interrogated then beaten after discovering his Bible. The church planter was put under house arrest. He was allowed to leave the house to purchase milk. During that short time, he ran into one of the other church-planting trainers. He was scared, but began crying when he talked about wanting to continue in discipleship/training. What an amazing testimony of faith, and very humbling for the one who mentors this young man.

Persecution continues to intensify in Iran. In these times of political unrest, many people are suffering. Believers are arrested. House church members are threatened. We need to stand with the persecuted in prayer. Please ask God to make His presence known to those in prison. May He embolden Christians in Iran. Pray that they will have wisdom to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Ask God to use this time to expand His kingdom in Iran.

* Please pray that the Lord will use what is intended for evil to invade local church bodies with eternal hope.

* Pray that instances like these will spur believers on to a renewed devotion to Christ Jesus and obedience to His Word.

* Pray that the groups that continue to meet will evolve into healthy, reproducing churches despite the persecution.

CaringBridge

• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris

OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE

It is reported that a magazine ran a “Dilbert Quotes” contest several years ago.  The writers were looking for people to submit quotes from their real-life Dilbert-type managers.  Here are some of the submissions:

1. As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday and employees will receive their cards in two weeks.  (This was the winning entry; Fred Dales at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, WA)

2. What I need is a list of specific unknown problems we will encounter. (Lykes Lines Shipping)

3. E-mail is not to be used to pass on information or data. It should be used only for company business.  (Accounting Mgr., Electric Boat Company)

4. Quote from the boss: “Teamwork is a lot of people doing what ‘I’ say.” (Mktg. executive, Citrix Corporation)

5. We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not going to discuss it with the employees.  (AT&T Long Lines Division)

6. We recently received a memo from senior management saying, “This is to inform you that a memo will be issued today regarding the subject mentioned above.”  (Microsoft, Legal Affairs Division)

7. One day my boss asked me to submit a status report to him concerning a project I was working on. I asked him if tomorrow would be soon enough. He said, “If I wanted it tomorrow, I would have waited until tomorrow to ask for it!”  (New Business Mgr., Hallmark Cards)

8. This project is so important, we can’t let things that are more important interfere with it.  (Advertising/Mktg. Mgr., UPS)

Even though that last statement doesn’t make any sense, it suggests the truth that there are some things so important that nothing else should get in the way.  Unfortunately for UPS (and other employers who may not realize it), that level of importance will never be attached to any project at work. It can only be attached to matters of spiritual commitment.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

There is only one thing that is of “primary importance”, and that should be our desire to do God’s will.  May God bless you as you commit yourself to truly put “first things first.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

The Dr. gave Wayne a clean bill of health, removed the supplemental oxygen and told us we are free to fly home.
We have to get our flight reservations so it will probably be early next week.
Will let you know when we find out.
Thanks again
Mary

Olivia Prescott

Cheryl Prescott thanks you for your prayers for little Olivia.  She got all good reports.

Mrs. Faye Price

Pray for the family as they spend time caring for their mother/grandmother/sister.

Roger Pittman

Roger’s appointment went well today.  He has some relief and will be going back in two weeks to get the other stone treated.  He’s still in pain, so pray for that to get better.

“Cete” Dillon

Mr. “Cete’s” eye procedure went well today.  Pray for his eye to clear up.  Thank God that “Miss” Ruby is now well enough to take a turn at being the care-giver.

Micah

My cousin in Texas is spending some family time tonight, but will be admitted to the hospital again in the morning for a test that will determine what needs to be done and in what time frame.  Pray for Micah and his family.

Virginia “Ginnie” Hoffman Wilcox
(June 5, 1928 – March 3, 2010)

A resident of Wilmer, LA, died at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, LA. She was born June 5, 1928 in Garrettsville, OH and was 81 years of age. She is survived by her 3 daughters, Sandy Toney and her husband, Doug, Franklinton, Candy Frazier, Amite, and Danna Jo Erwin and her husband, Michael, Walker; 2 sons, Dennis Wilcox and his wife, Ruth, Wilmer and Douglas Wilcox and his wife, Donna, Wilmer; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Mary Ethel Knopf, Chagrin Falls, OH and Fran Sotera and her husband, Sam, Mantua, OH; 2 brothers, Buckie Hoffman, Sierra Vista, AZ and Donnie Hoffman, Chagrin Falls, OH; brother-in-law, Hank Wilcox, Lake Alfred, FL; sister-in-law, Jessie W. Grether, Naples, FL; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Le Roi Wilcox; parents, Clarence and Ethel Hoffman; brother, Harvey Hoffman; son-in-law, Paul Frazier; 2 great-grandsons, Chandler and Braedon Toney. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Wilcox’s oldest daughter, Sandy Toney, was one of my high school friends.  She is a teacher in Mt. Hermon now.  Thankfully, Sandy and I have seen each other a few times lately.  It’s hard to believe how long it has been since we were in class together.