Only One Son – In the Line of Duty

February, 2004   NEWSLETTER  –  Barb and Ray Payne

Dear Faithful Friends, Prayer Partners, and Supporters,

It has been a while since we have written and in the meantime, we have had great meetings, contacts, and many new “open doors” for ministering!

It was encouraging to hear from a young police officer recently:  he and his wife had prayed about going into “full time service” for the Lord!  Immediately several opportunities were opened – right on the“job!” They realized that this was their “mission field!” They are excited … and we are excited for them!

Another officer, a young believer, wants Ray to help him start a fellowship group in the department for Christian officers in his area!  The Lord has been encouraging and strengthening him even as he has been going through some very difficult times!

We would ask you to continue to pray for Lt. John Finn, Albany Police Department, still in very serious condition after a line-of-duty shooting two days before Christmas.  As a result of Ray’s visits to the hospital, he has had an open door with law enforcement in that area.  Please pray for John’s wife and two daughters, 18 months and 8 years old.

As you may know, many mission agencies are experiencing financial setbacks.  Our mission board, BCM International, is no exception.  They have sold assets and cut back on administration costs and office help.  In November, they sent out a request to their 800 missionaries for prayer.  Many prayed, some gave, and by the end of the year, the deficit had dramatically decreased.

Our mission executives, whom we respect and admire, have had to make some changes in order to meet the new challenges.  How does this affect our ministry?   We presently have about 60 % of recommended support.

1. Missionaries will no longer be permitted to operate financially under-supported.

2. The monthly amount the mission requires us to raise will increase (nearly double!), including items that we had not previously depended upon in support figures, i.e., insurances, travel costs, office, etc.

We are very thankful for those of you who have supported us in the past; we are not asking you to go beyond that. We are asking that you pray:

• · That God will give us a very clear understanding of what His will is for us.
• · For wisdom whether we should pursue trying to raise this large increase in financial support, something we have never felt comfortable with.
• · For us to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10

We do appreciate you and are grateful for your love and partnership in the Gospel and in prayer.  May the Lord continue to bless and encourage you in this New Year – perhaps the year He returns … Titus 2:11-14!

In Christ’s Love,

Barb and Ray Payne    200 U. S. Route 9   Schroon Lake,   NY  12870     (518) 532-9049    RJBJPayne@aol.com

Merry Christmas from the Paynes!

We have been stirred by a very special message in a song that is new to us.  It has caused us to contemplate in a deeper way the magnitude of what God did for us in sending His Only Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sins.

This song has raised some serious questions in our minds:

• How can we fathom what it cost God to sacrifice His Only Son?
• What kind of love would cause Jesus to leave all the glories of His heavenly  Home, and come to this filthy, sin-spoiled world, to be treated badly, and then die in a horrible death?
• As this song points out, the answer, of course, is love – the kind of love which our human minds cannot comprehend.

We are praying that this will not be just another hectic, “holiday whirlwind” – but, that the Lord will cause us to stand in awe of Him – all that He is, and His great love in sending His precious Son, Jesus. Join us as we marvel at the message of the angel of the Lord in his words to Joseph in Matthew 1:21,

“… and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Winter is not here yet, officially, and we have already had three snow storms!  It’s beautiful, but does cause some schedule changes!  Barb flew to Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 10th, to be with daughter, Judy, as she gave birth to her third child, Emelia Jane, 9 pounds, 2 ounces, on December 15th (C-section).  “Grandma” was be in her glory as she helped take care of Logan (2) and Riley (4)!  In the mean time, Ray tried to keep the snow off the driveway!

We certainly have appreciated your faithfulness in prayers and thoughtfulness in gifts this past year … Philippians 4:17 and 19!  We find it difficult to believe that the whole year of 2003 is almost complete.  What will 2004 bring?  Perhaps the return of the Lord?  We anticipate that “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:11-14), but are fully committed to “occupying” until He comes.  Please continue to pray that He will keep  us, and strengthen us for His ministry and glory — in the words of David, in Psalm 35:27b and 28:  “… yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.    And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long!”

May you and yours enjoy the blessings of this Christmas season, and look forward, Lord willing, to a spiritually prosperous New Year of 2004!

In Christ’s Love,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” Psalm 147:1

Warm greetings … what a whirlwind October we had! Some 3,700 miles were covered in the first 2 weeks, and we could tell that you were praying! In our travels, we were able to enjoy visits with our daughter Debbie, Rob, and family in Carlisle, PA, our niece Diane, and Chet, and family in Indiana, and our daughter Judy, Jeff, and family in Little Rock, Arkansas. The children, ranging in age from 2 through 12, were such a delight! We got to baby sit a few times for Judy’s kids, and had a really fun time!

There were many ministry opportunities at the COPS Parents’ Retreat in Missouri. About 141 moms and dads came in from all over the country, each having had a police officer son or daughter killed in the line of duty. Some losses were very recent … some a while ago … but all gathered together in the “bond of fellowship in sorrow that knows no conventionalities,” as one writer has expressed it. There were some positive comments heard concerning the devotionals Ray had each morning. (The true comfort is found in God’s Word.)

We received a warm reception from the pastor and his fine family, and all of the believers in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina, and experienced some real “southern hospitality!” Their police appreciation went well, and we made great new friends there! This church has been supporting us for some time, even though we had never met them. Some “old” friends even drove many miles to be with us there … a very special treat!

We were home for a few days and then made a trip to the Philadelphia, PA, area for a “Disaster Emergency Preparedness” chaplains’ training for Ray, and a nice visit with Barb’s Mom. Friends had offered us the use of their beach home in Cape May, NJ. It worked out great for us to stay there and attend Ray’s 50th high school reunion on the weekend, where he had been asked to give the invocation. The hotel where the reunion took place was just up the street from the beach home! We enjoyed the ocean and the relaxing action of the waves, which could be seen from the house! Another blessing … we had a visit from a couple (retired trooper) we’ve known for years who live nearby. On Sunday, a pastor friend in Vineland had Ray speak. After lunch with the pastor and his wife, and 2 other couples, we stopped to see the couple (retired trooper), and their daughter, her husband, and family! On Monday, we took the ferry from Cape May to Lewes, Delaware, to visit long-time friends – a pastor and his wife – who were instrumental in our coming to know the Lord, and were also in our wedding! What a weekend, and what another week-and-a-half, 1,500+ miles, on the road!

Now we’re home and attending to doctors’ and dentist’s visits! Because of Ray’s immune disorder, he has to have blood tests every 3 months. So far, he has had good check-ups, but he doesn’t seem to have the strength he had before. Barb continues to have the sinus problems. This is a bad time of the year for arthritis problems for both of us, too! Thanks so much for your faithfulness in prayer for us! As we often remind you, we could not get along without them! We “ cease not to give thanks for you …” Ephesians 1:16!

This month, we head to another chaplains’ training in the Philadelphia area next weekend plus the BASIS staff retreat, then, on the 14th to 16th, our annual Law Enforcement Retreat near Rochester, NY. We’ll be at the First Baptist Church in Rockland, Massachusetts, on the 23rd. Thanks, again, for your faithful prayers and support!

Have a “Happy THANKS-GIVING!” Hebrews 13:15

In Christ’s Great Love,

Barb and Ray

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Warm greetings, dear friends… we want to praise the Lord for His faithfulness … for His enabling and strength … and for His provisions for all of our needs! It’s good to know that, as Isaiah 40:31 tells us, we can “exchange” (renew) our weakness for His strength!
We are thankful for your faithfulness in prayers and support, too!

We do have some urgent prayer requests for you … We will be driving about 3,500 miles in the next 3 weeks …leaving early tomorrow (September 30th) for Carlisle, Pennsylvania (overnight at our daughter Deb’s), then on to Santa Claus (that’s actually the name of the town!), Indiana (overnight somewhere … and then stopping for a brief visit the next day at Barb’s niece’s), then to Camdenton, Missouri, October 3rd to 6th – COPS (Concerns Of Police Survivors’) Annual Parents’ Retreat … we do peer support and Ray has the Saturday through Monday AM devotionals (COPS is not a Christian organization – but there’ll be about 125 or so bereaved parents – line of duty sons and daughters and many have identified themselves as believers …

On Monday, the 6th, we head to daughter Judy’s in Little Rock, Arkansas, for a couple of days … then to Mt Gilead, North Carolina, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, for a Police Appreciation on the 12th … back to Deb’s for a couple of days, and to Akron, PA, for the BASIS Annual grief seminar on the 18th, and on to Binghamton, NY, to speak at Grace Baptist Church in their missions conference, on the 19th … we would really covet your prayers!

We would appreciate prayer for our health … we’re both not really feeling well, but we do believe that the Lord has put this trip together for His glory. We know that He will supply the necessary strength and stamina. Colossians 4:2-4

In His Victory,

Barb and Ray
II Timothy 1:12

“Blessed be the LORD, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19

September 4th, 2003

Dear Friends … We praise our God Who daily loads us with benefits and blessings! The Lord wonderfully provided us with a 2000 Buick LeSabre with only 43,000 miles on it! Thank you for your part in praying and providing for reliable transportation! Several emailed us wanting to have a part and one couple, a retired law enforcement officer and his wife, promised a large gift towards it! Our daughter and husband in Maine accepted the ’96 Buick, and will put it to good use … it had grown to sort of be a “part of the family!”

There have been many ministry opportunities since we wrote last month! Barb was a help to daughter Judy and family in Arkansas for a week, and Ray survived “batching” it!

Ray officiated at a wedding ceremony recently, and was able to connect with several guests who were in law enforcement. One was an officer for whose salvation we had prayed – he is tender towards the Gospel. Another was an officer who is near a department we had a connection with a several years ago – he knew the officer Ray visited in the hospital after a shooting. There were two other officers … the Lord always lays the “groundwork” for future opportunities for His Glory! We pray to always be at “the right place and at the right time.” How thrilling to see how the Lord orders our times and events, and opens doors of opportunities! Colossians 4:2-4

The Fall schedule is full … SEPTEMBER offering the following opportunities:
* 5-7 The Annual CLEO (Christian Law Enforcement Officers’) Retreat, at Living Waters Bible Conference, Danforth, Maine
* 20 Law Enforcement “Get Together” at the Thompsons’ – Oakfield, NY
* 21 Genessee Country Church – PM – Oakfield, NY – Pastor Jon Speed
* 22,23 NY IFCA Regional meetings, at Niagara Bible Conference, Olcott, NY
* 28 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, at Victory Bible Baptist Church, Porters Corners, NY – Pastor Danny Sears
* October 3-6 – The Annual COPS (Concerns Of Police Survivors) Parents’ Retreat in Camdenton, Missouri

In direct answer to your faithful prayer support, we continue to see God’s strengthening and enabling each day. Although we get tired, we always seem to “snap back” in time for the next trip or meeting! Please don’t stop now!!! God is so good!

Keep in touch, and let us know how we can be in prayer for you and yours!
Psalm 118:24

In His Glorious Name,

Barb and Ray
II Timothy 1:12