TOGETHER IN PRAYER Weekly Prayer Letter of the Camrose Church of God Week of March 8, 2010 – Third Week of Lent

Faith Comes By Hearing – A Testimony

While we were in Bangladesh we were introduced to a group of 30 dynamic Village Health Care students who were being trained to deliver health care back to their home villages. In addition to their medical training they were given MP3 players with a digital copy of the scriptures and a small set of loudspeakers. They committed themselves to using these “Proclaimers” with their patients and with listening groups in their villages. Here is the story of one listener who came to a deeper faith through hearing God’s Word:

“We were not happy before. After receiving Jesus Christ in our hearts, we are very happy and living peacefully.” Though being baptized in 2007, he was not regular in the church. He was spending his time in a nearby tea shop, gossiping with other people. When he heard about the Proclaimer for the first time, a great change happened within him, his family as well as his neighbors. They were touched by the Word and a genuine reconciliation with God came out of it.Now he listens to the Proclaimer once in a week and attends the church on every Sunday. He has memorized some Bible verses by hearing the Proclaimer. Now he can read the Bible also. He is trying to encourage his neighbors so that they may listen to the Proclaimer, understand that there is no other God, and become a child of God…He said that, “By following Jesus’ words, I feel very comforted inside my heart. When I was a Hindu, I didn’t have peace in my mind as well as in my family. But now I know that Jesus is the only way and hope to heaven and He is the true God.”

Faith, indeed, does come by hearing, and hearing comes through the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). I wonder who in your circle needs to hear the Word of Christ today.

- Pastor Brian

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As we pray together this week, we are asked to remember Doug and Darlene Ezeard. They’ll be in Ontario for the next week or so while Doug’s daughter Denise undergoes a kidney transplant operation. His other daughter Tammy will be the donor. The operation is scheduled for this Thursday, March 11. As Doug put it: “Those who pray; pray for us. Those who do not pray think kindly of us.” As well, Kathy Nyschuk is in hospital in Edmonton recovering from surgery. She would greatly appreciate your prayers and visits and./or phone calls from her church family. Call the church for contact information.

 

This Thursday Doug Schwartz and Kevin Breker as part of a team of Operation Amigo participants, embark on another work mission to Juarez, Mexico. Our prayers for the team are greatly appreciated. May God grant them favour as they cross borders, travel the country, and serve the residents of Juarez.

 

The Spirit at Work in Haiti

We received word that on February 12, 2010 the president of Haiti, Rene Preval, called his nation to three days of fasting and prayer. The annual Mardi Gras celebration was cancelled and replaced by a gathering of an estimated 1,000,000 residents who sang, prayed, and read scripture for three days. One report states that 3,000 conversions to Christ took place, and that 101 of those had previously been Voodoo priests. Phyllis Newby, who runs an orphanage and leads a Church of God congregation in Saintard, reports that they have seen 150 people come to Christ since the earthquake. Give thanks for this good news in the midst of extreme hardship. 

 

Mudslides in Uganda

Our missionaries in Uganda, Tim and Colleen Stevenson, report that mudslides on the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Eastern Uganda have claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed three villages. The Stevensons write, “Our request is for you to pray for our church family as they deal with loss of life and property as well as health and stamina while they continue looking for survivors. The Church in Uganda is sending representatives there today to assist with blankets, household items and food relief. It seems there are many disasters happening these days – but, one thing we know – when we have Christ – we have hope and a future no matter what the circumstance (Prov 23:18)! As a church family, let us keep each other in prayer!”