Category: Pray

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2007-07-20: Pray for Janet Britton & the Widow’s Mite.

Janet Britton, a school teacher from Andover, Ohio, who has authored for Intervarsity, is accepting responsibility for leading the financial effort on the Widow's Mite prayer shelter. Way back in 1982, when Doug & Penny Lucas left for Uruguay, Janet began writing Penny regularly to encourage and support her. The rest, as they say, is history. She's been a strong booster for Team Expansion ever since. And now, this latest idea of hers is actually rather simple. She says that not every church or group can give $24,000. But their gift is still blessed and honored by God. So she proposed this Widow's Mite Prayer Shelter as a kind of "container" to rally together the gifts from all those folks who couldn't stretch to sponsor a full prayer shelter, but *could* contribute toward one. She is postulating that in the process, they'll get involved in other ways too.

She's asking us to help her by coming up with a rustic-looking bench… like a bench in a shoe cobbler's workshop… to set on the site for this shelter. When tours, prayer walkers, and others pass by it, she's asking us to tell the story of the Widow's Mite with the hopes that it will inspire prayer and hope for the future — not just for a prayer shelter, not only for Emerald Hills, but for Christianity in general… worldwide.

Janet's proposal was specific — that we not construct the shelter until the entire $24,000 has accumulated. She also suggested, in fact, waiting until the entire building was funded, because it's her theory that the Widow's Mite fund will actually be the biggest one of all.

So please pray for Janet. She had already mustered the troops at the Andover Christian Church Youth & Sunday School to take on a 29 partnership. Their goal is to raise an average of $100/week from the youth and Sunday School classes at a church that is excited to hit 300 in attendance. For the Widow's Mite partnership to succeed, she'll need lots of friends… and lots of prayer. But she's aware of that . . . and notwithstanding that, she has told us to ink in this project, which should be an inspiration to us all.
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2007-07-19: Widow’s Mite.

"Thank you, Father, for the fourteen partners who have committed $24,000 each to build a prayer shelter, buy a hand-held computer, and contribute to the building of the Prayer Center/Atrium at Team Expansion.  Thank you for others, Father, who do not have $24,000 to give but have given from what they have.  Please raise up others who will contribute as a "widow's mite" partner.  In the name of Jesus, Amen."

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2007-07-18: Pray for Rick Starr.

 Please pray for our IS partner in the Emerald Hills project, Rick Starr.  Here is his e-mail from today:

Where do I begin….The news was not what we wanted to hear today. But we are still thanking God and I am still standing on Mark 5:46, “do not be afraid, only believe.” In my prayer time this morning I also added, “help me overcome my unbelief.”

The neurologist appointment today said that he was going to have 3 other doctors that he works with at Baptist East look at the MRI’s. He told us in his opinion that it is a “glioma tumor” and that it would have to be removed. But since it is in the inner temporal lobe of my brain, which controls speech, that I would have to go to a specialist to have it removed. A surgeon that would operate while I am awake! (Doesn’t that sound like fun!) That way they would be able to tell what parts of my brain control my speech. Very important to have my speech since I am a preacher and teacher, I need that ability. He wants me to go to Cincinnati, Ohio for the surgery. He is suppose to call me tomorrow after the other doctors read the MRI’s and gets their opinion.

He then said he wants me to meet with the neurologist and neurosurgeon from Cincinnati this week if he can get me an appointment. They would then set the date for the surgery if they agree with the diagnosis. It might be needful for me to go into the hospital a few days before the surgery so they could run some more test. Surgery recovery in the hospital would take 4 to 6 days and then 8 to 12 weeks at home. (sounds like some good reading time to me) Then after that radiation and possibility of chemotherapy.

All this was a more than I was prepared to hear! I am still having a hard time trying to put my mind around it all. I have truly come to believe that it is a spiritual attack of the enemy in the physical realm. There is so much to be done at Emerald Hills and Spencer Christian. I have not seen the dream that God gave me fulfilled with the Retreat Center and God continues to bless Spencer Christian weekly with new decisions and growth. I know we must fight this battle with faith. Please continue to come along side our family and friends as we fight this spiritual battle for the Lord.

There are so many of you that I want to call and talk to personally but I just do not have the words right now. Please forgive me for not calling personally. I do love each and every one of you and thank you for standing with us in faith and prayer. I know you did not want to hear this way, but I needed to get the message out and this was the quickest and easiest way that I could think of so that the message did not get confused. Once again, thank for your prayers to this point and we ask that you continue to pray. I AM A PREACHER…I AM A TEACHER…that is my Spiritual Gift and I ask that you pray that I will continue to be able to honor God by using those gifts for His glory.

Serving God With You…

Rick L. Starr
23 Carter Ct.
Taylorsville, KY  40071
502.477.1591

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
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2007-07-13: Rick Starr.

Please pray for healing for Rick Starr.  Rick is scheduled to have a brain biopsy on July 19.  Pray in faith in the name of Jeus that God would remove the lesion shown on the MRI so that Rick can have more years of service in the Kingdom.  Rick has been instrumental in buiding relationships to further the development of Emerald Hills.
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2007-07-11: Wilmington Church of Christ.

Praise God!  The Wilmington Church of Christ elders have approved participation in Project 29. A check for $24,000 will be sent to Team Expansion around the end of August.  Praise the Lod or making Wilmington #14 in the list of "29" partners.

 

Elder Jack Tamplin sent the following words of encouragement along with thie good news:

"This was an easy decision on the part of the Wilmington leadership. Team Expansion has provided strong support and guidance for Wilmington missionaries John Bliffen, David Atkin, and April Hedrick (Cook). Team Expansion has faithfully sent and sustained missionaries in a multitude of fields over the past 20 plus years. Team Expansion has dedicated Emerald Hills for being even better prepared to fulfill the Great Commission. How could we say no to this worthwhile project? May God bless you with financial and prayer support from many dedicated congregations to glorify God in the development of Emerald Hills."

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