September 29, 2006

Sunday missionaries were joined by two lambs and a missionary from Haiti to pick-up area expired food, walk into camps, and take lambs to church. The three will be joining the missionaries every Sunday in training for while the missionaries are out of town. The transitional home where the two lambs live voted at their monthly house meeting to feed the Lord’s lambs in their home on Sunday’s while the family is out of town this month and possibly feed the group once a month going forward. These two lambs will also be leading the Thursday night Bible study that week as well, with the meal donated by an area church.

The missionary from Haiti was amazed to see third world living conditions in Wake County, NC, USA. He was told there are people living like this in Cary and Apex as well. He generously donated Ensure for each lamb at many of the Sunday outreach camps.

An area church donated potato salad, slaw, and pig rinds earlier this week. Missionaries prayed for BBQ to go with it. Wednesday evening another area church donated BBQ ribs, baked beans, a tossed salad, and rolls. The Lord is the mighty provider!

Nurses from the medical team came equipped with glucometer, thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, and evaluation sheets to serve. The Church in the Woods mobile clothing bus was also on site Thursday to serve the Lord’s lost lambs.

A camera was needed last night as lambs begged a missionary to allow them to hold her 2 month old daughter. Each sat holding her, watching her make cute baby faces that melted each heart. God is so merciful!

Nehemiah 10 was read and discussed last night. The group was reminded that we are to separate ourselves from the carnal ways of the world but not the people of the world. Jesus has commissioned us to “make disciples of all nations,” “not separate ourselves for the sake of the law.” It was also discussed how “making ordinances for ourselves,” all the feast, festivals, and duties of keeping up the house of the Lord could be exhausting if it isn’t done through the heart of Jesus.

As everyone was leaving, missionaries watched the Lord’s lambs set up camps under the shelter of the building awnings, as the rain pounded and the temperature dropped.

Another lamb had his moped fixed this week. He rode out to missionaries’ home to show them his wheels. He had a court date this morning for panhandling but the case was dismissed because he is doing so well! Praise God. Please keep him in your prayers. He is also moving into an apartment mid-October and will need donated household items and furniture at that time. This lamb is walking in a walk-a-thon, Walk for Hope, October 8th. Donations can be made for the team at www.walkforhope.com online or checks can be mailed to Foundation of Hope, 9401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617. The team’s name is “Silent Walkers,” they are all hearing impaired as is he. The walker code is BobHarris.

One of the Lord’s precious lambs has been sober for 11 days. She likes how she feels and wants prayer to continue. Thank you Jesus!

This lamb and another decided to get up early Thursday morning to accompany a friend who was facing a court hearing. The case was postponed, but it was so awesome to see them supporting each other.

A missionary’s mother is having open heart surgery next week. The Lord has already provided other disciples to stand in the gap while she is in and out of town for the next few months. One disciple has volunteered to pick-up donated food once a week, another to lead Bible studies as needed, several to assist on Sundays. God is so gracious. Please continue to pray for another disciple from an area church to be the liaison for the church and the Church in the Woods ministry.

Please pray for the donated van. It was fixed yesterday and stopped working on the way to the outreach last night. It is needed to transport lambs to the movie Facing the Giants tonight.

Prayer walking is continuing in Wake County. Teams meet in Cary every Saturday morning. Teams walk during the week in the Raleigh area. Teams are needed for the Apex area.

We are thanking the Lord for the neighborhood office who donated a sleeper sofa to a woman living in an efficiency apartment this week. We are also thanking the Lord for the use of a truck and those who helped move it. We are thanking the Lord for the brother in Christ who donated 3 twin beds for those moving into apartments in October.

The next medical mobile unit outreach is Oct. 6 from 6 to 8pm. This would be at Guild ministry at 909 N. West St. in the Rainbow Upholstery Bldg.
There will be a second one in October, the 26th at the With Love from Jesus bldg. We would love to have a dentist and hygienist at this meeting. Please call 772-7050 if you are interested.

Thank you for all your prayers and support! God is showing us so many things this week!

Before we start on all the wonderful happenings, just a reminder of the upcoming mobile medical mission dates and location:
Thursday 9/28, With Love From Jesus, 421 Chapanoke Rd, Raleigh
Friday 10/6, Guild ministry, 909 N. West St, Raleigh. in the Rainbow Upholstery Bldg
Thursday 10/26, With Love From Jesus, 421 Chapanoke Rd, Raleigh (dental hygienist/dentist are needed)

Missionaries visited a Cary church this week and were able to talk with the pastor. The sermon discussed holiness as being where God is. God is always part of serving the less fortunate, whether in a third world country or the woods of Wake County. The pastor's vision is to have every person serve others whether inside the church or outside. The church has offered to open its building to the homeless to use the laundry facilities, showers, and to host a hair stylist once a month. The church is providing the volunteers and lunch. God provides such amazing hearts and hands!

A church in Garner has the OK from the pastoral staff and the missions council to begin the transportation, showers, meals, and Bible study twice a week, Wednesday evenings and Saturday lunches, once the Lord provides volunteers from the congregation. Missionaries are going to visit the church October 14th. Please keep these new outreaches in your prayers and may the Lord provide the harvesters. His fields are ripe. Again the Lord provides such amazing hearts and hands.

Missionaries have begun to prayer walk dark areas in Cary, with Apex areas mapped for future prayer walks. The team was blessed to include one of the Lord's former Garner lambs. He also is encouraging a housemate to prayer walk. The housemate not only is serving the Lord through Church in the Woods as a missionary on Thursdays and Sundays, but as a mechanic for the Church in the Woods' newly donated 12-passenger van, and is going through the interview process for a prison ministry. Please keep him in your prayers. His heart is for prison missions.

What a blessing to witness the Lord touching so many lives!

One lamb who has been in our prayers for months asked Thursday night why God "walked away from her. "The Bible study was Nehemiah 9:22-38, which documented how God's children lost God's favor through their disobedience -- yet were constantly brought back to Him in through mercy and grace. This lamb began reading God's words and had to leave. Her boyfriend continued reading, praying she would return to listen and truly hear the words of God.

It was discussed how the Lord may seem distant, but He brings people into each life who may be signs of how much He cares. One example may be a new lamb who arrived Thursday night. She seemed to bring a sense of calm and order to the group. Another lost lamb who hasn't been seen in months came last night to thank missionaries for his Sunday lunches and notes.

Further discussion from Nehemiah focused on how the cycle of disobedience, punishment and redemption has ended because of the blood of Jesus. We are free "from", such things as hatred, fear, anxiety. And we are free "to" have peace, love, joy and giving hearts through faith in Jesus.

Missionaries have been praying for someone to lead the Thursday and Sunday outreaches and food pick-ups while they go out of town in October. The two lambs who recently received cars and have stepped forward. God is amazing!

A medical missionary has contacted CitW missionaries asking if he can join them on the Sunday morning food and church outreach. He cannot drive due to health issues but wants to be part of the ministry any way possible. As you know, all things are possible with God.

One of the Lord's lambs told missionaries of her plan to stop drinking a few weeks ago. She would drink 2 days and take 2 days off. The missionary asked to step up the plan to 2 days on, 3 days off; 1 day on, 3 days off... She was hospitalized this week and informed the missionary that God has his own accelerated plan, thank you very much! God is good! Please keep her in your prayers as she allows Jesus to take her by the hand and walk her through the valleys.

An area caterer contacted missionaries this week, requesting leftover food for the Lord's lambs be picked up several times a week. This week it was beef tenderloin, tuna, roast beef and gravy, chicken kabobs, pizzas,... The Lord is the ultimate provider.

An area pool donated pancake mix and syrup to an area church. The pastor's wife contacted the ministry to donate the items for a breakfast. Someone else donated sausage patties. The Lord is truly the ultimate provider!

A prayer warrior has been collecting donations for Church in the Woods and With Love From Jesus. He brought over ~100 new golf shirts, with ~100 new cloth bags and ~100 pocket knife sets. The Lord is preparing for Christmas gifts for His lambs.

Another prayer warrior called to say she works at the Dorcas shop and has asked for certain items to be given to the Church in the Woods; feminine products, white socks, toiletries, underwear, and disposable razors.

Missionaries were blessed to see the Sherman Baptist Church's movie Flywheel this week, and want to remind everyone to see Facing the Giants opening weekend, 9/29-10/2 in the area theatres. There are several in the area. You can find a theater at www.facingthegiants.com

An article from Albuquerque, N.M titled "Growing Homelessness Touches 'Average People' in America" can be read on the blog site at http://least-of-these.blogspot.com/ . The book sited in the article is, Homeless In The City: A Call To Service, and is written by Dr. Jeremy Reynalds, the Executive Director of Joy Junction, in Albuquerque, N.M.

A missionary's article about the original showers held at a Garner motel is being used in a periodical called "Trumpet of Triumph." Isn't it interesting that God is bringing attention to this just as two area churches are reviving His ministry?

We thank the Lord every day for His lessons of compassion, provisions, dependence on Him, and the opportunities to bring salvation to His lost lambs.

Growing Homelessness Touches “Average People” in America

Growing Homelessness Touches “Average People” in America
Albuquerque, N.M. —If you catch CNN tonight, you probably won't see a story about the homeless in America. Almost any other story is more important, whether it’s the President’s latest speech, or Paris Hilton’s latest escapade.

But the homeless are still with us. According to National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, there are 760,000 people homeless on any given night, and 1.2 to 2 million people experience homelessness during a year.
There are more homeless people on the streets than ever, and many of the newcomers are not the mentally ill or drug users that people commonly see. Just last week, those new street people may have been your neighbors.

Dr. Jeremy Reynalds, is the Executive Director of Joy Junction, in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the few homeless shelters in America that provides a place for entire families. He said, “We are seeing a definite upswing in the numbers of families who need our services.”

In his new book, Homeless In The City: A Call To Service, published by Theatron Books, Reynalds gave a composite picture of many families they are now seeing at his facility.

He said, “The Wilson family is a couple in their 30s with three children, ages 7, 5 and 2 months, and typically they live in a colder climate. One day, the husband learns there is going to a job cut-back. They cling too long in their home community hoping a new job will materialize, and soon run out of money. The mortgage company starts calling to collect missed house payments, and in desperation the couple decides to sell what they have, and move out west, where they have heard there is plenty of work.”

But the trip out west is not without its problems, Reynalds said. “They have already maxed-out their credit cards and they don't have much cash. Staying in motels and eating out is expensive, even at fast-food places. Car problems take all their cash, and they arrive penniless in Albuquerque.”

Reynalds has seen this type scenario play out many times. “They can't even afford a cheap motel while they look for work, so they come to our shelter," he said. "It can be a very humiliating experience for people who might have been homeowners just a few weeks earlier.”

Reynalds, a transplanted Englishman, has been the Executive Director of Joy Junction for 20 years. He knows how people who come to Joy Junction feel; he was homeless and hungry himself at one point in his life, and had a family to feed. He understands how important it is for people to be able to retain their God-given dignity when adversity strikes.

He likes telling Joy Junction guests about his past. He was homeless, but now has degrees from the University of New Mexico and a Ph.D. from Biola University. He is the founder of Joy Junction, now in its 20th year, and it is New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter. His “rags to spiritual riches” story has inspired many Joy Junction residents to catapult themselves into more enriching lives.

“Our focus is to give a hand up, not a hand out,” said Reynalds.

Reynalds would like to see individual Christians and local churches play a greater role in helping the homeless.

He said, “Too often people think they’re helping when they give a street person loose change, but the problem is much deeper than that. That’s why I wrote this book—I would like regular Christians to know that having a heart for the homeless is a very definite call to Christian service.”

Editors and writers are free to reprint this material as provided, or to use it as a basis for an expanded story.

You can discover more about Reynalds and his ministry, and learn about his new book, Homeless In The City: A Call To Service, at www.HomelessBook.com.

September 15, 2006

Praise God for another wonderful week of blessings!

We are seeing so many awesome changes in the lambs as they take up the mantle of service to one another and even to God's lost.

One formerly lost lamb prayed fervently during the Thursday night Bible study for a lamb with depression and substance abuse issues. This lamb has also agreed to help pick up groceries for the ministry and to prayer walk dark neighborhoods to reclaim them for Christ -- Praise God!

During prayer time Thursday, another lamb suggested everyone pray for a woman who has suffered many medical problems recently. When he said he didn't know how to pray, another lamb quickly demonstrated for him. Later, the two were sitting together, taking turns reading from Nehemiah 9. What a joy to hear God's Word from their lips!

The evening was so blessed, one missionary took prayer time to praise God for how the lost lambs have spoken into her life!

One man who has been coming to missionaries' church helped get a mechanic to check out a donated van this week. They pronounced it sound, but in need of a tune-up and oil change.

A Garner lamb has moved to Apex and wants Church in the Woods to start a mission there. Another lamb who moved to Florida many months ago returned to a joyous reunion Sunday.

God continues to provide abundantly for the missions. An area church that regularly delivers their leftovers to missionaries' home every Wednesday provided stuffing, carrots, a green bean casserole and a gallon of tea this week. A missionary gave thanks for the bounty, then said, "Lord, chicken would be nice with this, but I only have two chickens in my freezer." When she went to Food Lion to pick up food that was to be thrown away, the Lord had five more roasted chickens waiting for His meal Thursday. Overjoyed, the missionary called the woman who faithfully brings the food each week and they shared His mighty Glory!

Please pray for a lamb who is looking to leave the woods and stop drinking. He has found work with a man who won't let him drink on the job or during the drive home, but the lamb still drinks every night. He would like to stay with missionaries, but isn't sure he can abide by their no-drinking rule. God is working in him, as he joined prayer circles Thursday, including one for casting out demons.

Please continue to pray for two lambs who were beaten and robbed last week. A lamb has opened his apartment to them, but more physical and emotional healing is needed.

Also pray for a lamb who says she will return to church this Sunday after a long absence. She truly seems to be feeling the Lord's insistent calling. Praise God!

9/11/06

Sunday afternoon two of the Lord's lambs from the Thursday/Sunday missions were robbed and severely beaten. Both are at Wake Med. Please keep them in your prayers.

Someone would like to donate a much needed 12 passenger van to Church in the Woods. Please pray for a mechanic who wants to donate time to evaluate whether this donation should be accepted. If you feel the Lord's leading, please contact Alice at 772-7050. A lamb called Monday evening with the name of a mechanic willing to donate his time, as did another ministry. Thank You Jesus!

There are increasing numbers of homeless populations in the Cary/Apex area. Please pray for missionaries who are willing to serve these areas. If you feel the Lord's leading, please contact the Boyce's at 387-0921 or Alice at 772-7050.

September 8, 2006

We are thanking the Lord for you and your prayers. The Lord is answering them.

A couple of weeks ago, several missionaries attended a church service where the pastor wondered aloud whether he was making disciples. The missionaries too began to ponder this question. A dictionary definition of disciple is one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples (teach, instruct) of all the nations (people), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you (Matthew 22:36-39); and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

As the missionaries have asked the Lord, are the oppressed from their Jerusalem being instructed in His ways, given charge by Jesus? The Lord answered this week.

A missionary was asked to attend a friend’s court case this week. She was unable to attend due to lack of transportation and childcare, but one of the Lord’s lambs went to hold her friend’s hand. He told missionaries, “You wouldn’t let us be alone, she shouldn’t be alone.” Lord, thank you for Your compassion!

The Lord is answering your prayers for “driving angels.” One of His lambs received his driver’s license this week and a donated car. The lamb not only wants to give his tithe to Church in the Woods with his treasures but also with his precious time. He attended the Bible study last night. He aided missionaries with transporting the Lord’s homeless lambs back to camps. He also plans to attend the Saturday Moore Square and Carver Street outreaches, as well as volunteer with the Sunday ministry of grocery pick-ups and transporting people to and from church. He is ready to put into action the love of Jesus he received. Lord, thank you for willing hearts and hands!

Lambs who once were served meals at outreaches are now serving behind the lines with big smiles for everyone. Another lamb has opened his camp to a friend who lost his job and apartment. Lambs are counseling each other, helping each other with substance abuse issues, encouraging them to get into treatment centers or to seek help from family members. One lamb has been asked by a church to be a greeter for both services. Praise God!

An ex-con lamb who has been attending church with Church in the Woods missionaries and lambs called this week also wanting to tithe to Church in the Woods and volunteer with the Sunday ministry of grocery pick-ups and transporting people to and from church. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul discusses this very thing,

While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous. – 2 Cor. 8:2

Jesus also discusses it in Mark 12 and Luke 21. Missionaries have such tears of joy!

The Lord is also answering your prayers for harvesters from area congregations. Three churches have approached missionaries, feeling the Lord’s calling to serve the oppressed and lost in Wake County. A nurse from the medical mobile unit has served on mission trips to Nicaragua using vacation time. She was surprised to see similar conditions in her “backyard” and felt called to tell her brothers and sisters in Christ, wanting to serve the Lord daily. Her church has agreed to provide meals once a month for the Thursday outreach as well as volunteers. They are also praying about picking up groceries at a 5th Food Lion Sunday mornings.

An area church has agreed to supply a bag lunch for the 5th Saturday of each month. Thank You Jesus! What an outpouring of His mighty Love!

Last week missionaries were praising God at the possibilities of showers once a week. The proposal was taken to the pastoral staff and a modification was made, they want to host showers, providing transportation, meals and Bible studies TWICE A WEEK! With the pastoral staff backing, the mission counsel is expected to approve it this week. Missionaries have been asked to speak with the congregation after the showers begin. What a joy to serve our precious Lord with so many cheerful givers, 2 Corinthians 9! The Lord of the Harvest!!!

A missionary received an email this week from another woman in Garner who wants to serve those in need.

Another church donated gas cards for missionaries to use as thousands of miles are placed on vehicles each month. The cards were distributed to the Church in the Woods missionaries in the most need. The Lord is an awesome provider.

So many of you were praying for the lamb who went to court Friday. The judge is impressed with the attitude change and has given him a continuance. She doesn’t realize that this lost lamb was returned to His Father July 3rd, through Jesus Christ. Continue to keep him in your prayers.

The lamb who lost his job a few months ago and returned to the woods is now working. He needs a couple of paychecks to get back to renting a room. Please keep him in your prayers as alcoholism is still a problem.

We asked for bedding and cleaning supplies last week, with several people responding. A church offered to reimburse receipts. At the same time brothers & sisters in Christ made cash donations for these needs and bedding for three other lambs. Again our Lord’s provisions are overabundant!

This lamb is walking in a walk-a-thon, Walk for Hope, October 8th. Donations can be made for the team at http://www.walkforhope.com/ online or checks can be mailed to Foundation of Hope, 9401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617. The team’s name is “Silent Walkers,” they are all hearing impaired as is he. The walker code is BobHarris. He begins vocational rehab this month. His apartment was to be ready this month, but the construction is still incomplete. The new move-in date is November. The Lord’s lamb loves how the Jesus has changed his life, making him a new creation.

What a beautiful picture last night to witness the Lord’s lambs holding a precious six-week old infant! Children have a special way of touching the lost lamb’s hearts. She was passed to several lambs, each beaming the love of Jesus, not wanting to share her with another. We are thanking Jesus for the gift of children and the missionary’s trust in the Lord, knowing every person and child belong to the Father. In addition what a way to “train up a child in the way she should go, And when she is old she will not depart from it!”

The flock was large last night outside under the full moon. All were blessed with Nehemiah 8. What a joy to hear the lambs reading God’s Word, tackling the names listed, understanding what it is like to lift hands in praise, giving them a sense and understanding of the reading, knowing mourning and weeping and glimpses of His mighty Joy! They just had a great feast and at the moment filled with great gladness! A missionary drove a lamb to an AA meeting last night as well. Thank you Jesus!

One of the Lord’s lambs is had a hysterectomy yesterday. She appears to be doing well. Please keep her in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for the lamb suffering from a brain aneurism.

Last weeks’ medical mission helped several lambs get full physicals and provided grounds for some to get follow-up medical attention.

One of the Sunday outreaches brings the Lord’s lambs, lost and found, to church each week and then to a missionary family’s home for lunch. Some of these lambs from the Raleigh Rescue Mission have been boasting about the meals and fellowship. The news has traveled to the RRM counselors and now the women and children want to attend. The missionaries believe the more the merrier; however they are concerned that some women and children might be uncomfortable around the “rougher” crowd still living in the woods. Please pray for the Lord to open another one of His precious homes and/or churches for these lambs wanting to be found in the arms of the Lord Jesus’ fellowship. If the Lord is placing this on your heart, please contact the Raleigh Rescue Mission at 828-4980. The Raleigh Rescue mission will also provide a van if needed.

One of the Lord’s lambs is being baptized this weekend at an area church. Please keep him in Your prayers as he makes a commitment to Jesus. Hallelujah!

As winter approaches, please pray for provisions for the Lord’s oppressed and poor, Isaiah 58. Perhaps your church family can host a drive for socks, coats, blankets, tents, sleeping bags, toiletries (including toilet paper, feminine products and razors), gloves, hats, chapstick. The Church in the Woods serves over 600 people per week, in addition to the lambs served through the shelters. Last year several area churches crossed denominational walls, making and distributing plastic shoeboxes filled with goodies. The shoeboxes served as storage containers and a mini bathtub/sink for many.

September 1, 2006

Dear Lord where do we begin to tell how awesome You are?

Sunday, when missionaries went to see the Lord’s lost lambs inviting them to church, one lamb has lost so many of her material strongholds; her dog was stolen, her van was taken, and her belongings have been removed piece by piece. She has been living under a patio umbrella for several weeks. An area church offered her a room for 6 months a couple of months ago which she refused because of her worldly belongings. Missionaries spoke with a sister in Christ that day. She was the “persistent widow” bringing His lamb to the late afternoon church service. The Lord cast out demons from His lamb Sunday. The joy of the Lord beams from His lamb now. The church now only has the money for a week to week commitment. His lamb went to a pulmonary doctor yesterday. She has been going every 4 weeks for treatment. The Lord has done such a healing in her she now doesn’t need to return for 6 months. Praise you Jesus! She wants to attend Sunday morning church as well as Sunday afternoon church.

The men from the Raleigh Rescue Mission continue to bring more friends. Perhaps a second van is needed. RRM has offered to allow missionaries to use one of their vans but the Lord needs to provide a driver. He will in His perfect timing. A couple of these lambs want to be baptized in an area church 9/10. Praise the Lord!

Please keep a lamb in prayers as she decides whether she is ready for the commitment to be baptized. She realizes she needs to allow the Lord to make her a new creation in Him. Pray that she is ready to be His new creation

Please keep driving angels in your prayers. Missionaries can only bring 6 people to church each week and the Lord’s Harvest is becoming ripe.

One of the Lord’s lambs has moved into a temporary rooming house at Cornerstone waiting for his apartment to be completed. He is part of a hearing impaired program and has been asked to raise funds for a walk for the hearing impaired. He is wondering how he can ask people to donate for his cause. The Lord has changed this man. He use to panhandle asking for money to survive daily and now he is unsure whether he can ask his church family for money for this cause. He stills sees himself as the old person, a bum, not the new creation the Lord has made. Please pray the Lord will provide a comforter, mop, bucket, broom, dust pan, sheets, and towels for the room he is renting.

In February the Lord’s lambs lost the shower facility due to new management at an area motel. Missionaries have been praying for the Lord to provide showers and haircuts again. A missionary was called this week asking if a Garner church could offer showers, lunch and transportation every Saturday. The church has vans to transport His lambs and showers on site. The lambs were asked last night and all said, “Thank you Jesus!” The Lord is even supplying the volunteers through the church and the missionaries shouted, “THANK YOU JESUS!” Please keep this new outreach in your prayers.

A church approached Church in the Woods ministry asking how they can serve more than once a year. The fifth Saturday of every month, neither the brown bag ministry nor the hot dog ministry feed at Moore Square. A church is committed to serve a hot meal, but a “take home lunch ministry” is needed those four Saturdays a year. This church is asking the Lord if they should begin a sandwich ministry September 30th.

One of the Lord’s lambs is still substance free but has mismanaged his finances, returning to the streets. The need for a faith-based support circle is great. A support circle will empower His lambs to acquire the skills necessary for finding long-term, self-supporting income, housing, and enhancing and improving their quality of life, as well as bring a spiritual hub into their lives. Please pray for the Lord to provide a faith-based support circle for so many lambs, especially those moving back into society and apartments. So many lambs need the Lord’s guidance with money management.

Keep one of the Lord’s lambs in prayer today as he goes to court for charges prior to accepting Jesus into his life. He is so frightened. Pray that the Lord comfort him no matter the outcome. Remind the lamb that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those called according to His purpose. Also pray for the peace of God that passes all understanding, guarding his heart and his mind in Jesus. And pray for protection for this lamb's girlfriend and dog.

Please continue to pray for a lamb who is nursing an injured shoulder. He has received pain medication that requires him to stop drinking alcohol (praise God). We are praying the Lord will continue to work on him and help him to minister to his best friend, who is suffering from alcohol abuse and the recent loss of his rented room and job.

What a leap of faith for all who participated last night, so many took huge steps out of their comfort zones! The medical team met the Lord’s lambs in an environment substandard to any office where they have practiced. The lambs who have been outcasts of society willingly met a large group of new people who might judge them, due to their medical conditions, their standards of living, their substance abuse, their shame… They have been cut off from society so long and so unsure how to interact, but came so trusting and willing to try.

Father, You are so good! What a blessing to witness Your seed planted and growing. Having the Medical unit at the outreach last night reminded missionaries how fragile and frightened Your social outcasts are. We want to thank You for building that relationship of trust and love, as only You can build. Please forgive us for taking for granted the love and trust You bring every week.

We are thanking you for bringing Your Spirit to the forefront week after week. We want to thank you for holding off the storm enabling so many to attend last night, a half a dozen nurses and a doctor and so many lambs - the doctor was busy until 8:30. Father, you provided toiletry bags and first aid kits for all who came. Father, after breaking bread together, by the end of the evening, Your lambs forgot their fears and read aloud Your precious Word in front of Your new missionaries. They were still too timid to discuss much, You know their hearts.

We are thanking You Lord for the reading from Nehemiah 7 and how doors and gates are put in place to keep people in and sometimes form barriers to our hearts. This message was evident as missionaries witnessed one of Your precious lost lambs come into Your presence, get some food, and medical attention, yet he felt unworthy to stay and join the group to eat, much less read Your precious word. Instead he stood outside the “wall” listening. Missionaries went outside in the drizzling rain to pray with him. His eyes welled with tears as he was told how loved he is by the faith community and Jesus. Please keep him in prayer as he comes closer to You, Lord. In Nehemiah 7, the group was reminded how You are the provider for all of us, especially those in need. Your feast last night was bountiful. It was all loved especially the salad and tomato salad. Thank you Jesus for meeting all of our needs! When His lambs were asked if they needed rides home, one lambs said, “We are at peace among ourselves tonight.” Thank you Jesus!