Only One Son – In the Line of Duty

JANUARY, 2007 UPDATE / NEWSLETTER –   Barb and Ray Payne

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield:   I hope in Thy Word.” Psalm 119:114  … a verse that describes both “to protect and serve!”

A warm (comparatively speaking, weather-wise) New Year’s greetings to you!

Our 2006 ended in a very happy note – our granddaughter, Erika, was a beautiful bride as she was united in holy matrimony to Roberto Reyes, whom she met at Rio Grande Bible Institute!  We were honored that she asked us to sing a duet at her wedding on Sunday, December 31^st!  Their ultimate goal is to serve the Lord as missionaries in South America.

More exciting news!  Our youngest daughter, Judy, is expecting twins in June!  Barb would appreciate prayer as she flies to Little Rock (Thursday, January 4^th).  She’ll help out as Judy’s husband, Jeff, goes to Masters’ Seminary for a week.  He’s working on his “D Min,” and has to go to California twice a year.

Debbie’s husband, “Dr. Rob,” has already begun his responsibilities at Liberty University as the Director of Student Services.  Deb and the 3 children will be moving fromCarlisle, PA, to Lynchburg, VA, the middle of this month.

Ginny’s youngest, a senior at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, ME, is into wrestling now … the football team were Maine State Class B champions, and now Kyle is concentrating on his opponents in the 285 lb weight class!

BethAnne’s youngest, Ben, is into soccer now, big time, in Florida … so there you have some idea of where things are heading for the next weeks in the family!

Ray has been asked to represent BCM International at the annual Word of Life Bible Institute Missions Conference this weekend – the 5^th to 7^th.   Then, Ray speaks at the “Seasoned Saints” luncheon on the 18^th – in South Glens Falls, a get-together for seniors.  The 19^th and 20^th, we will be in Hornell, NY, at the NY Empire State Fellowship, for the 2007 Winter Conference / Seminar, with the Only One Son display.

We have not had much snow to-date, and the traveling has been easy — but, that can change quickly!

Thank you, once again, for your faithfulness in praying and giving so that we can continue to reach-out to our law enforcement “family!”  Certainly it’s in His power and strength that we go, and we’re grateful for your dedication to serve with us! Isaiah 40:31

In Calvary’s Love,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12

Christmas Greetings from our home to yours …

December, 2006

Dear Friends,    Warm greetings … wishing you all the joys and blessings of this joyous season!

We have so much to be thankful for!   First of all, for God’s revelation of Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, Whose entrance into this world we celebrate this time of the year!   Without Him there is no hope! Colossians 1:3-5

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the govern-ment shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of [His] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.“ Isaiah 9:6 and 7

We are very grateful to our gracious Lord for our wonderful family.  Our four daughters keep in close touch with us, and all are loving and kind to us. (All are good mothers to our grandkids – who, by the way, are just the greatest kids ever!).  Even though we are getting “older” (we both turned 70 this year), we’re thankful that God still gives us strength for each day (His strength – Isaiah 40:31) and grace to meet each challenge!

We also celebrated our 50^th anniversary in September … we entered Philadelphia College of Bible and were married in September, 1956 … and are still serving Him together in the Lord’s work… He is a Wonderful Saviour!

We are thankful for those of you who pray, encourage, and support us so that the outreach to our law enforcement “family” can continue!  This has been a challenging year – with five New York State troopers lost in just six months alone.  In November, an Androscoggin County Sheriff’s deputy died in an underwater search attempt – he was in charge of the dive team.  His wife, ex- pecting their second child, was a former Lewiston PD dispatcher.  There were others … several officers who are close friends of ours currently battle cancer …  There are times we struggle, but we know we can call upon you for your prayer support through a quick email or phone call … thanks for “being there!”

Keep in touch, and help us by keeping us current with your up-to-date revised address and email.   Again, we appreciate and love you, and trust that you and yours will enjoy a blessed Christmas, and a spiritually prosperous New Year!

In Christ’s Love,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12

NEWSLETTER –  July  2006 Barb and Ray Payne

“I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” Psalm 9: 1 and 2

Greetings, Friends and Prayer Partners …

In a rather different turn of events, we’ve had some really great opportunities to be used of the Lord!  We’ve been out of touch for the last week and a half.  Ray was put on an antibiotic June 30^th for a cut that was slow healing.  We did not know he was allergic to sulfa drugs, but we know it now!  He had a violent reaction – chills, fever, and “erythema multiforme”, a variety of rashes and blotches all over his body.

To complicate things, we were away from home.   We had left for a meeting in Philadelphia on Friday morning with Chapel of Four Chaplains officers regarding 9-11 issues.  Then on to New Jersey for our grandson, Michael’s, reception and wedding on the Saturday … however, Ray spent Friday night in a hospital outside Camden.  He missed the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.

A special encouragement and blessing was getting together Sunday morning with Bob Rice, PA/NJ Port Authority officer (an exciting testimony of God’s Grace as he trusted Christ as his Saviour through the WTC/9-11 tragedy!) and his wife!

Then we followed daughter, Debbie, and family to her home in Carlisle, PA, for a couple of days to recover, rather than the long trip back to Schroon Lake … but Ray went back into the hospital there for four more days.  Hopefully, things are “over the hump” for now …

We praise the Lord for all the tremendous opportunities He gave through the journey (so far!)!  Just before release, a nurse came up and asked for her own copy of ONLY ONE SON … her “ex is a cop” and she’s “lived with the scare and dread of what could happen” … she encouraged Ray with “if you made it through what happened to your son, you can make it through this…”

We would ask your prayers for a full recovery so we can make it through our meetings … next weekend we’re in enter Barnstead, NH, with Judy and Pastor Brian Gower for a Police Appreciationweekend (22^nd and 23^rd) … August 6^th to 11^th, we’ll be with Sandy and Pastor Jack Caron, at River of Life Bible Camp, in the Howland, Maine, area, teaching a week of Intermediate-age campers!

Thanks, so very much, for your faithful ministry to us is support and prayer!

In Christ’s love,

Ray and Barb

II Timothy 1:12