Only One Son – In the Line of Duty

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel
(and law enforcement officers) is, that they might be saved.” Romans 10:1

August 9th, 2003

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners, warm greetings, in His Name – Isaiah 9:6 and 7!

A full schedule and many miles traveled did not permit an update in July, however, we can praise the Lord that He saw fit to bless meetings in Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania, and New York, plus “one-on-one” contacts!

While in Pennsylvania last Friday, there was a police funeral near Lansdale for a 41 year old officer. Ray had many opportunities with grieving officers from many police departments and areas! Then, Saturday, we were at the BASIS Annual Picnic in Manheim, near Lancaster. Ray had the devotional for the group. We spent a few days at (daughter) Debbie and Rob’s (and grandchildren) home in Carlisle, and they took us to a “Night Out” – a nationwide safety program set up by police and firefighters … and Ray had great “opportunities” there! It is proof to us that God’s people are praying when it seems that we are in the right place at just the right time! We do sense that your faithful prayers and God’s sovereignty set these “divine appointments!”

Thank you for praying for (daughter) Ginny, who went to China on a missions trip! We made a trip to Maine to see her and Mark, and family, before she left a couple of weeks ago. We met her new pastor (we took part in the trip dedication in the AM Service, and Ray preached in the PM). All went well on her trip and she is home safely – praise the Lord! Her trips across the mainland were fruitful, and, as an extra blessing, she made contact with someone who will translate the ONLY ONE SON tract into Chinese. Everything went well at home while she was gone, also.

We would appreciate prayer regarding our car situation. Our ’96 Buick has a lot of miles and is starting to need costly repairs. We need the Lord’s wisdom concerning what to do. We had to stop at the Buick garage in North Syracuse on the way home from Pennsylvania Wednesday, and the repair shop manager said, “Maybe it’s time for a change!” The fall schedule is almost full into December, with trips to Maine and western New York in September, Pennsylvania and New Jersey on separate weekends in October, and back to Pennsylvania, western New York, and Maine in November … the car does not “keep still” for long! We certainly need dependable transportation … so we would covet your prayers!

May we “remind” you, again, that you are a very vital part of this ministry … we could not, and would not be able to continue were it not for your faithfulness in coming alongside with your prayers and support. Barb travels to Little Rock, Arkansas, Tuesday, to be with (daughter) Judy (and Jeff) to help her as she is expecting their third child. Ray will pulpit-supply at Faith Bible Church, in Chestertown, and Thurman Baptist Church, Thurman, the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your keeping us before the Throne of Grace! Hebrews 4:16

By His Grace and in His Love,

Barb and Ray
II Timothy 1:12

“Ye also helping together by prayer for us …” II Corinthians 1:11a

Dear Friends and Faithful Prayer-Partners, thank you again for bringing us and our family before the Lord for prayer!

Our daughter, Deb, and hubby, Rob, have sold their home in Streetsboro, Ohio! How good the Lord is – the very first couple who looked at it bought it! Rob will start his new job in administration at Harrisburg Area Community College on July 1st. Please pray for a quick adjustment period for them and their 3 children; 9 year-old Nathan, 6 year-old Joshua, and 18 months-old Katie. We had a wonderful visit with them on our trip to Ohio. May we ask you to pray for Debbie’s friend, Sandy, who has cancer? Her daughter, Julie, is Joshua’s good friend.

Please pray for our daughter, Ginny, as she goes on a missions’ trip to China. She and her group will leave Maine on July 23rd. She has been to China several times, and has a genuine burden for the spiritual needs of the people in the depths of darkness there.

The missions conference we were involved in at Mechanicsburg, Ohio, was a great blessing. This was the church’s very first missions conference, and the church people worked together wonderfully to make it a success. They put on an international dinner with many interesting aspects, including a piñata to go along with the Mexican theme. We thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship with the other missionaries, and the pastor and his wife, Andy and Carol Jean Scott, who are old friends from back in Maine. Thank you for praying. We had asked the Lord to bless us and make us a blessing. As always, the Lord had us be with some hurting people, too.

Physically, we’ve felt the aches from the lengthy wet weather recently. We must be getting “older” … Ray’s lungs still bother him, and the doctor left it up to him whether or not he should follow up with a pulmonologist. Some of you have expressed a concern that we are “overdoing it;” but, please be assured that we are going at a slower pace now, and trying to take more time for leisure activities.

Our Christian car-dealer friend has made it possible to have major work done on our car. Although it has 134,000+ miles on it, it has been good transportation. We will eventually have to trade for something with less miles, but in the meantime, please pray that it will continue to be reliable for a while longer … thank you!

Meetings coming up include:
* June 21st, 22nd: Colchester Bible Baptist Church, Colchester, CT – Pastor Bill McMahon
* July 5th , 6th: Police Appreciation – Peoples Baptist Church, Newfield, NY – Pastor James Depue
* July 13th: Faith Baptist Church, Warrensburg, NY – Pastor Lee Call – SS/AM/PM
* July 27th: Open Bible Baptist Church – Cambridge, NY – Pastor Cal Witham – 11 AM

We are ever thankful to our God for raising up prayer supporters as yourselves! Thank you, again, so very much … Colossians 4:2-4!

In Christ’s Love,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12

Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” I Peter 5:7

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners …

It has been a busy month, as usual, centered on the time of National Police Week! We had some very good meetings in the Binghamton, NY, area, as well as meetings in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

It looked like the activities of National Police Week in Washington, D.C., would not be in this year’s schedule since the weekend prior and following were already full. It just would not warrant Ray’s being able to drive down and back. Then, through an officer who has been close to our family since David’s death, we had a phone call that Lewiston Police Department (where David served) was sending a plane ticket for Monday through Thursday – still allowing time to drive to Syracuse on Friday for the following weekend!
The 4 days in D.C. opened so many opportunities with parents and police officers! Time and space are not adequate to relate some of the special, God-appointed contacts!

Thank you for your prayers for Ray’s headaches … they are all but gone! Guess the doctor was right when he said, “… maybe it’ll be one of those things that just go away, and we’ll never find out what caused it.” (We do not know what the cause was, but we do believe God answered prayer!)

The Ladies Bible Study that Barb helped teach is over for the summer; it was a rich source of blessing in a study of some of the Psalms. She has had opportunity to do some writing for our mission’s periodical, RENEW, addressing grief issues of bereaved parents. She would appreciate prayer as they have asked her to write an article for each issue; RENEW is published bi-monthly.

Family news:
* In April, our 14 year-old grandson, Kyle, won the Maine State Wrestling Championship, and then went on to place 2nd in all of New England!
* Our daughter, Deb, and family, are moving from the Cleveland, Ohio, area to the Harrisburg, PA, area. Rob, a college administrator, will assume duties at Harrisburg Area Community College.
* Our daughter, Judy, is expecting their 3rd child in December … and is feeling pretty queasy at this stage of the game!

Upcoming commitments:
* May 25th – Speaking at all services at Faith Baptist Church – Warrensburg, NY
* May 30th – June 1st – Missions Conference at Mechanicsburg Baptist Church, in Mechanicsburg, Ohio
* June 21st – 22nd – Church Picnic and Sunday Services at Colchester Bible Baptist Church, Colchester, Connecticut
* June 28th – 29th – Police Appreciation at Peoples’ Baptist Church, Newfield, NY

View our calendar here!

How very much we appreciate those of you that the Lord has raised up who faithfully pray for us! May the Lord continually encourage and bless you … we pray for you, too!

Love, in Christ,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said!” Matthew 28:6

Greetings, Friends and Prayer Partners, This is the time of year that is called Easter … we commemorate the death, and especially the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! We trust that this will be a time of drawing near to Him, and praising Him for so great salvation! We cannot comprehend the magnificent love of our precious Heavenly Father in sacrificing His Only Son for the likes of us! But, we praise Him for it, and pray that you, along with us, will be more faithful in loving and serving Him. He has been so faithful to us in so many ways.

We thank you for your faithful prayers; we’ve sensed them as we have seen God’s enabling in the meetings and ministry in the past weeks. (We are very much aware of the weakness and frailty of these human bodies. How good to know that “… the inward man is renewed day by day …” – II Corinthians 4:16

As you continue to pray for us, we would like to pray for you, too; please send us your specific requests so that we can rejoice with you as God sees fit to answer. Here are some of ours:
* For strength and stamina, and spiritual refreshing … that we “might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” Colossians 1:9b
* For wisdom and provision of some needed equipment – a laptop with a greater capacity and speed (our present one is filled up and tired), and a multi-media projector for presentations – most churches we’re in do not have this availability …
* For continued improvement in health for Ray, especially with the lungs …
* For Barb’s allergy problems, as the pollen season is here …
* For the salvation of God’s “ministers” – law enforcement officers
* For upcoming meetings:
April 26th – BASIS Annual Breakfast, Aldan, PA
April 27th – Andalusia Baptist Church – AM Service (Bensalem, PA)
April 28th/29th – North /Mid-Atlantic Regional Training – ICPC (International Conference of Police Chaplains) at Springfield, MA
April 30th – Teleconference on “Living with Grief – Coping with Public Tragedy” – Albany, NY
May 3rd /4th – National Police Parade, Newport, Rhode Island

At a recent pastors’ conference, Ray was recommended to help determine personnel and resources available regarding crisis intervention, when another tragedy like “911” happens. We ask prayer for this responsibility. The question is not “if”, but “when and where?”

In a new tract that came in the mail recently, written by a teacher we had in Bible College, Charles Ryrie, he mentioned the Middle East … that “History began there (the traditional site of the Garden of Eden is near present-day Babylon in Iraq). The most important event in history happened there (in Jerusalem … where the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world). History’s final showdown will take place there (Armageddon … a lush valley in the northern part of Israel).”

Dr. Ryrie went on to say, “Is the world out of control? … Sometimes sin must be allowed to run its course to reveal what people are really like. Although God is in control that does not mean that He causes the evil which we see all around us. Evil people cause evil, and sometimes they become tyrants who inflict their unrestrained desires on innocent victims. But God will not allow evil to flourish unchecked forever. Every person – whether a tyrant or not – will ultimately be examined and judged by a holy God.”

Certainly the soon-coming of the Lord Jesus for His Bride, the Church, challenges us to be ready and looking – Titus 2:11-15! It is an exciting day that we’re living in – for sure! Thank you, again, for your faithfulness in prayer and support. May the Lord continue to encourage and bless you as you remain true to His Word and look forward to His coming – II Timothy 4:8!

In Calvary’s Love,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12

200 U. S. Route 9, Schroon Lake, NY 12870 (518) 532-9049

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners, greetings, in His Name – Isaiah 9:6 and 7! We are thanking the Lord for some warmer weather, and for actually seeing some of the snow blanket melt! It’s been a loooong winter up here in the North Country! We have much to be thankful for … first of all, for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the joy of serving Him – He is a good and faithful Saviour!

The Lord has seen fit to send several encouragements in the last couple of weeks! Two different police officers, both in western New York, wrote in order to tell of opportunities for witness among co-workers, and asked that we send more “ONLY ONE SON” tracts. It is a thrill for us to see how the Lord is working! We ask you to pray that the Word will fall on the “good soil” of prepared hearts, and that some will be saved!

Another big encouragement is seeing how an officer, who has become a good friend, has been saved, and is growing in the Lord! We visited him last week, and can see how the fruit of the Holy Spirit is being reaped in his life. Both of his parents have also received Christ, and all are involved in a good, Gospel-preaching church. Please pray for “Al” – (not his real name, but God knows who he is)!

Thanks so much for your continued prayer for Ray’s health needs. He is feeling stronger; but he is now battling a sore throat and cold. He saw a doctor on the 17th, and is now on Penicillin. Some days are good … some days are not so good …

Meetings are being lined up for the next few months, starting with the Word of Life Law Enforcement Conference, March 28th to 30th.
” Law Enforcement Appreciation Service – Twin Orchards Baptist Church, in Vestal, NY, Pastor Paul Blasko, Morning and Evening Services – 04/06/03
” NY IFCA Regional Bible Conference, Port Crane, NY – 04/07,08/03
” Annual Breakfast for Victims of Crime, Binghamton, NY – 04/09/03
” Sky-Help – a follow-up program for those involved in the WTC/9-11 tragedy, on Long Beach Island, NJ – 04/11-13/03
” BASIS Annual Breakfast, Alden, PA – 04/26/03
” Mid/North Atlantic ICPC (International Conference of Police Chaplains) Work-Shop and Regional meetings, Springfield, MA – 04/28,29/03
” Hospice Teleconference: “Living With Grief – Coping With Public Tragedy” – Albany, NY – 04/30/03 1 to 5 PM

Thank you for praying about our financial situation. We have stayed at about 60% of what our Mission, BCM Int., requires. Hospital insurance cost is increasing by about 25%. Gas prices continue to rise, as well as other items. We know that our Lord will continue to remain faithful, even in this area. He is able!

Also, we are concerned; as we are sure you are, about our Country’s welfare, and the safety of our troops in the Middle East. What a comfort, knowing that, “… the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will … He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth …” Daniel 4:32 and 35 Can His coming be far away? Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

By His Matchless Grace,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12