Prayer Team,
Thanks for praying. Below is a prayer need from our friend Robert in Houston. He is doing a great work with his inner-city mentoring group. Below that are some prayer and praises from July
July was busy and kind of insane. Because there was so much, i'll keep this short and sweet but we can grab a call if you want and I can give some details.
JULY OVERALL
Three trips: 2 couples trips and one senior pastor trip. Amazing ministry, lives changed and a few of the participants want to sponsor trips of their own. Pray that they keep making progress and that we can do even more to help.
The couple's trips are slower impact but go much deeper. God did some amazing healing and started the process for additional healing in several couples.
THE ROUGH NEWS
One guy led a trip for us and two days later had a heart attack. Nothing related to RPNISH but wow. He is doing fine and recovering after 2 stints were put in. He is 53 years old. Please pray for Jason. UPDATE - he is at home, resting and recovering really well.
Please prayer for three pastors that are close to RPNISH (2 have been on trips in the past 18 months) quit or were forced out of ministry. I cannot go into details, but you can prayer for Pastors: P, C and M.
All three churches were pretty good size (1500-2000).
My takeaway: pastoring is hard, the enemy is real and RPLNISH can do more. And, yes, these hit me hard and personally.
THE GOOD NEWS
One of the guys moved from DFW (actually Gateway) to the PNW to plant a church; the church didn't do well, so he closed the doors. God told him to use his skills as a handyman to help people. He began posting on Facebook and Next Door and began helping people. He would move things and do small home projects. He didn't necessarily use this as an evangelism tool, but just an opportunity to serve. He ended up working 12 hours for a muslim man, and when he was done, the guy said You have to let me pay you my guy said, no. Dialogue ensued; my guy refused payment. the muslim said, ok, then please tell me why you do this. Again, my guy said I don't really want to share, but the muslim insisted. My guy said, " I'm only sharing this because you are basically forcing me and told him that god said, You don't need to plant a church, but you need to go be the church. the muslim replied, you are the first Christian I have ever met.
One couple reluctantly came, but when they arrived things were bad. They didn't talk; they refused to sit by each other. It was sly and didn't interrupt the trip, but to the couple that invited them, it was obvious. On date night, we have the couples pair up with another couple and enjoy dinner at a nice place in Breckenridge. The other couple got to set up some great ministry and deep conversation. Their hearts began to melt. Through the next few days, and soul care and prayer, God did an amazing work in their hearts. They rekindled and fell in love with the Father and each other. As of a few days ago and they were happy, loving and on the same page. They are both in counseling, and God is still moving.