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January 2007 Newsletter
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 31st! 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 4th). 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 5th to 7th. Then, Ray speaks at the “Seasoned Saints” luncheon on the 18th – in South Glens Falls, a get-together for seniors. The 19th and 20th, 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 2006 Newsletter
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 50th 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
July 2006 Newsletter
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 30th 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 (22nd and 23rd) … August 6th to 11th, 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
June 2006 Newsletter
NEWSLETTER – Barb and Ray Payne – June 12th, 2006
“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of His Name: make His praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible (awesome) [art Thou in] Thy works! through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing [to] Thy Name. Selah.” Psalm 66:1-4
Warm greetings, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners, what a Great God we serve!
May was quite a “trip” – over 5,000 miles on the road – mostly by Ray, since Barb was “stretched” with her teaching responsibilities! Now only one week remains, and the Lord has used Barb in these young lives, and has allowed her to be an influence for good in her students … so, she has had much more effect on their lives than just academics! She sends a huge “Thank You” to all who prayed her through the school year!
Ray just finished the annual “Americade” – 50,000 bikers in Lake George and the area for their yearly “pilgrimage” … it was rain, rain, and more rain – but that didn’t even seem to put a damper on their activities. Ray hung out mostly with the Blue Knights – a national organization of law enforcement officers – active and retired, that own and ride. Our son, David, became a Blue Knight in Maine just before his line-of-duty death in July of 1988. His name is on “Heaven 1″ – the Memorial Chapter of the Blue Knights – and, of course, a very focal point to make contacts.
Next week, the 18th to 25th, our four daughters have arranged to rent a house in North Carolina on the Outer Banks so that they and husbands and grandchildren (not all will be able to make it) can get together for a special time for our “Fiftieth!” -(can you believe it?) All are looking forward to it and trust that the weather will cooperate! Of course, Ray cannot pass up all of the many law enforcement “contacts” that will be available along the way, and he will be supplied with all of the necessary materials for distribution! (Our actual anniversary isn’t until this September, but June was better for everyone.)
Thank you for your continued faithfulness in prayers and support in this vital ministry! You’ve been such an encouragement to us over the years, and we feel very blessed to know you and to know your love! May His richest blessings be your continued portion as you faithfully serve Him! I Corinthians 3:9a
In Christ’s Eternal Love,
Ray and Barb
II Timothy 1:12
April 2006 Newsletter
UPDATE
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
We are praising the Lord for the good results from our daughter, Ginny’s recent major surgery!
The huge tumor, an angiomyolimpoma, was NOT malignant, and had not invaded as many areas as the doctors had feared. They did have to remove about 20% of her kidney.
Our daughter, Debbie, was able to go from Carlisle, PA, to Maine to help out for a week, then, Barb went last week during her school’s Easter vacation. Ginny’s church family sent in meals, which was a huge blessing and help.
Ginny is healing nicely and gaining strength daily. We appreciate and thank all of you who have prayed. We are indeed thankful to our wonderful Great Physician, “… Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think …”
The Lord continues to open doors of opportunity. One of Ginny’s nurses said her husband is a Portland Police officer … Barb gave her the “Only One Son” tract … she took it home to her husband and asked him if he remembered a Lewiston officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1988 … he remembered “David Payne” and what happened that day, and said he attended the funeral, and that it has affected his police career very much …
Ray went to the April 8th monthly prayer and Bible study that the Lewiston officers continue to have … begun after a number of officers trusted Christ following David’s death. The next weekend, there was a get-together with Bangor area officers who have traveled to Lewiston and now want to have their own monthly prayer and Bible study, and Ray met with them. One of the officers present was in the police academy back in 1986 with David and remembered him well!
We also received an email from another police academy classmate who had recently found the website about David, onlyoneson.org. Brian told us that he was hired on to Lewiston PD just three weeks before David’s death, and was working the day shift on that Saturday, July 23rd, and responded to the calls for help with Sergeant Mike Kelly, who later became Lewiston’s Chief, and then Maine’s “Top Cop” – the Commissioner of Public Safety. Brian is presently in law enforcement in the State of Connecticut.
Ray went to watch a lacrosse game that our grandson, Kyle, was playing in in Wiscasset last Saturday afternoon, and gave an “Only One Son” tract and a couple of Peace Officer For Christ magazines to a young Wiscasset officer who responded, “I remember you! You spoke to our police academy class …” (about six or seven years ago!)
Ray continues the testing and monitoring of his physical problems following the World Trade Center/ 9-11 tragedy. He had a two hour exam and monitoring a week ago in Albany. Stopping for a quick burger at noon before the first test, he saw an Albany officer in line, who is also working with the new COPS Chapter. While sitting at a table with the officer, a couple stopped by and the husband identified himself as a retired officer. Ray spoke with them at their table later, and found out that they were believers, and were looking for opportunities to work with police officers … what a “coincidence” – right?!
This past Wednesday, there was another monitoring session for Ray to attend in Syracuse – a five-hour session that was not able to be completed. There will be another hour-by-phone session next week. A nearby Denny’s provided a place to stop on the way in for a bit of lunch and there, at the next table, were ten U.S. Air Force personnel dressed in camo’s … an opportunity to give Only One Son tracts and a bit of appreciative “thanks” for what they do for us and our Country!
The nurses and doctors at the session were “open,” because each one wanted to know what happened on 9-11, and why I was there! Exhausted??? Definitely – but in a good way and for a good reason!
To quote those TV infomercials, “… BUT WAIT … there’s more!!!” But, we better stop here for now!
Barb’s doing well … in spite of her usual sinus and other physical problems. She is encouraged because there are only eight weeks left in the school year! Please continue to keep her in prayer!
The cardioversion worked well – but for only two days … the doctor says that despite the fact of being uncomfortable with the irregular heartbeat, it is not life-threatening, and life can go on “for another two decades” (smile, smile, smile)!
Again, thank you for your faithful prayers and support. Our confidence is in the fact that God is still in control, and that He does all things well. Psalm 37:3-7
In His Great Love,
Ray and Barb
II Timothy 1:12
Only One Son - In the Line of Duty 