Only One Son – In the Line of Duty

“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

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