Archive
August/September 2004 Update
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER UPDATE – 2004 – Barb and Ray Payne
“I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the Name of the LORD Most High.” Psalm 7:17
Dear Praying Friends … thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support, without which we could not continue this ministry with our law enforcement “family!”
Our week at River of Life Bible Camp was a refreshing time, and the Lord blessed with great weather! We used the life of Joseph in the Old Testament, and tied it in with law enforcement. A Maine State Trooper friend visited one night and gave his testimony and a Bible challenge – the young people really enjoyed it! One of the counselors is taking the criminal justice course at Pensacola Christian College – also, some of the youths had parents in law enforcement. The Director, Jack Caron, set up and continues to maintain our website, www.onlyoneson.org … and his background is law enforcement. We had opportunity to speak at the Passadumkeag Baptist Church Jack pastors. On our way home to NY, we also were at Belgrade Bible Church (Pastor Larry Wiles) and Waysiode Bible Baptist Church in Livermore, Maine (Pastor Dan Corff)! It was a great week!
Recently we had an email from a missionary friend – a retired police chief from Ohio – who takes frequent trips to eastern European countries. He printed the “OnlyOneSon” tract off the website in the Romanian language, and gave it to some key people on his last trip there! He plans to do the same with the Russian language. Jack Caron is responsible for having the tract translated into 7 languages on the site. Recently, we also had an email “condolence” from a police officer in Spanish, which we had to get translated!
Upcoming meetings in September, for your prayer support, include:
- 5th – Speaking at Faith Baptist Church, Warrensburg, NY – all day
- 10th to 12th – CLEO – Christian Law Enforcement Officers’ Retreat, at Living Waters Bible Conference, Danforth, Maine
- 18th – a LEO “Get-Together” in Oakfield, NY, Amy and Brian Thompson
- 25th – a LEO “Get-Together” in Mayfield, NY, Peg and Bill Pitcher
- then, driving to Camdenton, Missouri, for the COPS (Concerns Of Police Survivors) PARENTS’ RETREAT – October 1st through 4th. We trust to be able to stop in Little Rock, Arkansas, on the return, and then in North Carolina at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mt. Gilead, like we did last year!
Some specific prayer requests …
1. That we will be clean vessels for the Master’s use in this ministry …
2. For continued strength and stamina for the many miles ahead …
3. For our children and grandchildren to have God first in their lives …
May the Lord continue to bless and encourage you as you continue to love and serve Him!
In His Matchless Love,
Barb and Ray Payne
200 U. S. Route 9, Schroon Lake NY 12870 (518)5532-9049
April 2004 Newsletter
APRIL 2004 Newsletter
Barb and Ray Payne
200 U. S. Route 9, Schroon Lake, NY 12870 – (518) 532-9049
Dear Friends and Faithful Supporters, greetings, in His Name – Isaiah 9:6 and 7!
We can’t believe it! Looking out of our front window, the ground is covered in WHITE! It snowed last night (12th of April) … and we were foolish enough to think that it was Spring!
In our last Newsletter, we had asked you to pray for Lt. John Finn, Albany Police Dept. He died after two months in intensive care. However, as a result of the contacts made at the hospital, there have been many other avenues of ministry with the APD and others.
The recent Law Enforcement Conference at Word of Life was a rich source of blessings
and encouragement! It is always great to have many of the officers and families stop in at our home on their way home! Some shared and asked prayer about difficult things going
on in their departments and agencies … others had some personal battles … one couple shared that the husband (officer in NJ) was being deployed to Iraq (we would ask you to remember Irene and Mike H. and their family in prayer) …
We would ask that you continue to pray regarding the financial needs of our mission,
BCM, International. We need to clarify what we wrote in our last letter about our
personal financial support: the mission is “strongly urging” – not requiring its missionaries to raise 100% of support. The good news is that since our last letter, there
has been an increase! One church and two individuals have committed to our monthly support, and one generous one-tine gift came in! Thank you for praying that the Lord,
by His Grace, will raise up the full amount.
Please pray for Barb’s mother as she is having some health issues. She will be 90 in May,
and is still serving the Lord by playing organ and piano in meetings at Christ’s Home in Warminster, PA, where she lives independently! She has been a great and faithful
supporter of this ministry over the years!
We would appreciate your prayer as we have many miles of ministry left in April:
18th: Faith Baptist Church, Warrensburg, NY;
19th and 20th: NY IFCA Regional, Binghamton, NY (“Crisis Intervention” Workshop);
25th: Hephzibah Baptist Church /Law Enforcement Sunday, Coatesville, PA;
28th to May 1st: Missions Conference at Evangelical Baptist Church, North Haven, CT;
May 1st and 2nd: Aquidneck Island National Police Parade, Newport, R.I. …
Thank you, again, for your faithfulness in partnering with us in the task of making Christ known to our law enforcement “family” – we are encouraged in His Strength:
“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
By His Grace,
Barb and Ray
II Timothy 1:12
Only One Son… Police Officer David R. Payne 1961-1988
February 2004 Newsletter
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
Christmas 2003 Newsletter
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
November 2003 Newsletter
“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
Only One Son - In the Line of Duty 