This past month Ken returned to the Mar Mitr Church of God in Beirut,Lebanon, on March 14-15 to observe their developing refugee services. The church is using a few of their members to make a difference in the lives of many refugee families. The church recently began an English language course, which was most impressive as it was a relational effort that not only equipped the participants but also encouraged them. There will be two levels of classes, each level meeting four hours per week, for 8-9 weeks. The church also continues a distribution of food and other necessities, every other month to as many as 200 families. One Syrian refugee, who has begun training for ministry with Pastor Joy Mallouh, also provides follow-up home visits to each family. Pray for the Church of God in Lebanon to compassionately and strategically serve the least of these.
Prayer Points
- we finalize our annual visa residency and work permit next week; it's possible that the government could allow us a 5 year visa either this year or next, a development that would be truly helpful!
- Ken returns to Rome to continue our quarterly assistance with that congregation as they begin a transformation in leadership structure to become more outreach focused, April 15-18. This will be an exciting weekend as there will be four young ladies baptized, two of whom participated in last fall's 3W Leadership Network event. And, we may have the opportunity to see Pastor Daniele's niece Giorgia - you may have been following our social media calls to prayer on her behalf last month; she has been ill and in need of a lung transplant for awhile, but was given just a few days to live near the end of the month. As the family braced for the worst, a lung donor was identified and she was rushed into what would be a successful transplant surgery; as we prayed for her recovery, she slipped into a coma, and we once again prayed for a miracle. The Lord answered again, and she awoke from the coma after just a day or so. Miracle after miracle witnessed in this one life in such a short time--thanks for joining us in prayer on her behalf.
- Beginning April 19, we will be hosting two pastors from the Tottenham (London) Church of God congregation; they are coming to the Middle East to learn more about their brothers and sisters in the region and how they can lead the congregations in the United Kingdom to better pray and support these congregations. So, we will help them to meet pastors and congregations in Egypt, and then Ken will take them to Beirut to do the same in Lebanon (April 27-May2).
- Eastern/Orthodox Easter activities in Egypt will begin with Palm Sunday on April 24 and Resurrection Sunday on May 1. Pray for the encouragement and inspiration of Christians here during these celebrations, and pray for peace to be experienced during this time
