Redeeming Halloween

James 5:16 Ministries...would like to invite LADIES of any age, tribe or tongue to attend our Gathering on Thursday, October 1, 2009.....from 1-2:30 PM.....at Crete Ref. Church....Get your hands on a copy of the book....."Redeeming Halloween" by Kim Wier & Pam McCune (Focus on the Family) and join us for a discussion & fellowship to answer the question...."how will we handle Halloween this year?"
For years..........I would either stick my head in the sand OR would dress up unrecognizably to my peers every October 31.....because as a Christian I NEVER knew how to deal with this "trickiest" of holidays!!! So join us.....for a frank discussion on how to "celebrate without selling out!"

A Life Well Lived!!!

I (Lois) grew up knowing Betty Ruth because she went to my church. Betty Ruth and Neal had 3 children: their oldest and only daughter, Kathy, would some day become my sister-in-law. Kathy was 13 years younger than me and married my husband's baby brother, Bill.
While expecting their second child, Kathy developed a brain tumor. Little Rachel was born and the testing began. That is when I really got to know Betty. Betty's strength and endurance never wavered as for 5 years she assisted Bill in every way with Kathy's care. As the entire family gathered around Kathy's deathbed at St. Margret's Hospital, Betty sat at her head. We lingered all day, saying our good-byes and supporting Kathy. Finally, I heard Betty Ruth say to Kathy, "is Jesus coming for you?" Kathy smiled. Betty Ruth said, "then go to Jesus." And Kathy was gone. For the last 14 years, Betty stood in as a mother to Ryan and Rachel. Through her words and behavior we all saw her remarkable love for Jesus Christ as her Savior and Redeemer. Then Betty Ruth was diagnosed with cancer. She continued with the same attitude of pushing forward and living the life out of each new day. On two occasions she came as an inspirational speaker for our Patient Support Group. On April 17, 2008 she told the group that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had 3 months to live. The patients hung on her every word as she said, "I'm not afraid to die--this world is not my home. I'm just passing through."
On June 7, 2009, the Lord called Betty Ruth home in a very special way. She was at home, in bed and not hungry for lunch. As she and Neal watched TV, Betty Ruth said "Dear, give me a kiss, I'm going home." Within the hour she joined Kathy in Heaven.
I personally feel so blessed to have had Betty Ruth in my life. If her name were in Hebrews 11 it might sound like this:

By faith Betty Ruth put God first in every situation of her life, taking the diagnosis of cancer and fighting it's effects with all of her might, sending her daughter, Kathy, before her into an inheritance that would never fade, and by faith Betty Ruth waited patiently to the very end to be taken home by Jesus Christ, her Savior.

Hallelujah and Amen to a life well lived!!!

Banqueting with CPO

When we began to feel the Lord directing us into full fledged ministry with our visiting of the medical patient...we began to feel....like we needed a mentor....someone who could show us the ropes....point us in the right direction....remind us who the POWER SOURCE was!!!

So we looked around for someone we would like to emulate as not only a follower of Christ but also as a missionary to the local!!!

AND there he was.....Dan Swets of CPO!!!

Chicagoland Prison Outreach

So we....James 5:16 Ministries want to take a blog moment and not only "thank" Dan for pouring wisdom into us and our ministry but to also give his web address to his ministry!!!

Click here!!! www.cpoministries.org

Lois, Ron and Char will be banqueting (don't you LOVE that word? reminds me of the banquet feast with the LORD someday) tonight with CPO in Lynwood....Hope to see you there!!!
If you cannot attend...information for supporting this amazing outreach ministry at his web address. All donations are tax deductible!!!!

Wandering and Wondering...No More

When we got the news two months ago that the Park Forest Library was going to be doing a "complete" renovation of their facilities....of course...we were outrageously happy for them...then we got the news that our meeting place for the past 9 years was becoming the computer lab and we would be "homeless" with our Bible study and Prayer Meeting beginning in May...we then became the wandering and wondering mini church.....selah!!!
But, God saw fit to lead us to the Promised Land in a fairly reasonable time frame (not the usual 40 year time span) and we couldn't feel more blessed and excited to meet in our new location.....
(drum roll, please!!!)
We will be meeting in the Fireside Room of Crete Ref. Church...located in the lovely and quaint town of (you got it) Crete!!!!
Just so happens this is also the loca of the two family residences of Moses and Joshua...I mean Lois and Char....so that means....definitely no wearing out of sandals or Michelin tires for us to get there!!!
The Church is also excited about this partnership.....AND we want to take a blog moment to "thank" them in a big way for.....their hospitality, the keys to the kingdom, a metal storage cabinet and letting us advertising on their most impressive marquis on Exchange Avenue.
Way to go.....Church!!!

So....join us for this exciting gathering of Ladies of any age, tribe or tongue (really!!) at our first meeting in Crete on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 1PM...we will be studying chapter #2 from the study book by Jennifer Rothschild called "Walking by Faith...and Not by Sight" (available at the Vine Bookstore, Dyer, IN)

Oh...and if for no other reason...come and join us in partaking of some "manna" provided by none other than....Moses and Joshua!!!

Dave and the Church Ladies

The very first person that Lois and Char ever made a "call" to and prayed over at the hospital was.... Dave!!! Then it was only "right" when we needed to have endorsements on the back of our very first PrayerBook that we asked...Dave for some words!! Now this story has come full circle...last month...Dave joined Faith Church with the "Church Ladies" as he has always referred to us....Glad to have you....Dave...you have come along way from that hospital room in 1998 and the hospital gown....and the Church Ladies praying over you....so glad you are in our lives!!!!

Come and SEE!!

This Thursday we will begin our 1st lesson out of our new study book by Jennifer Rothschild called Walking by Faith...Lessons Learned in the Dark....we are so excited with the prospect of really going deep into God's Word for 2009....won't you join us???? We meet at the Park Forest Library on the 1st Thursday of each month at 1PM...be there and learn to walk by faith and not by sight.....see you then!!

Tenacious Prayers...2

Just wanted to give everyone out in BloggyLand an update on what us two wild (for Jesus) and crazy girls are up to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thurdays of each month...We have begun the writing of Tenacious Prayers Book 2 which will have prayers for 6 additional medical conditions (e.g. stroke) and their treatments...it will also include a "deathbed prayer" which we have been asked to write by so many who actually work in the field with terminal and hospice patients...We are asking for you to specifically pray that we can get this second prayer book completed in 2009...and that funds to print (around $1500.00 for 200 copies) will also come into this ministry in 2009...we know that the economic situation of this world and personally for people does not look good....but, with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26) ...we focus not on what we see...finances look bad....but we focus on our GREAT BIG GOD and what He can do!!!!! So take a faith walk with us on the wild side today (2 Cor 5:7) you'll be so glad you did...as He never fails!!! Have a wonderful day filled with the lavishing grace of God!!! (Eph 1:7&8)

Give Back with Thanks...Bracelet Making

We have scheduled our 3rd Give Back with Thanks Event...and it will be making .....GOSPEL BEAD BRACELETS...these are given out by GAIN (Global Aid Network)...we are connected with this ministry through our member Joan H....as her son Scott is employed by the ministry in Texas...Joan will be bringing everything needed to make these bracelets...which will serve to explain by colors of beads...the gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world....we are excited to play bracelets on Thursday, April 2, 2009....Hope you can all join us for this exciting Giving Back Day!!!

GAIN Website: www.gainusa.org

CHRISTMAS 2008

We wanted to share with you the pictures of the wonderful time that we had this past Christmas at the Park Forest Library/Faith Church Mini Church...We started off with our shared meal which consisted of delicious appetizers and desserts...after the feast...we had our 10th annual "photo op" with photographer George of the Park Forest Library....we exchanged Christmas tree ornaments...and then had our Christmas Play...the actress this year who played the beloved baby Jesus was Lois' new Granddaughter....Juliana...What a way to set the tone for the Christmas season...this years play was based on the new book by Rick Warren called the "Purpose of Christmas". To read a review of this great book click the link below:

http://www.rca.org/thepurposeofChristmas

Hope all those of you out in BloggyLand had a most blessed Christmas remembering the real reason for the season: JESUS

Matthew 1:23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Partner in Prayer Coordinator

We are so excited to announce our first official volunteer position is filled...that of Partner in Prayer Coordinator!!! We are bursting with joy to introduce her to all of you that are connected to this ministry....her name....Mrs. Nancy Dykstra....this lovely women has agreed to sign up new folks to be Partners in Prayer.....to send out re-commitment forms when they expire....and to do the mailings to all our current Partners in Prayer which includes quarterly update letters as to what exactly is going on with us and this wonderful outreach ministry to the medical patient WORLDWIDE ...Welcome aboard Nancy....and fasten your bonnet this ministry thing is a wild ride....WooHoo!!
May the Lord continually pour out to you, Nancy....Heaven's blessings as well as human joys...Psalm 128:5

Urban Praise!! LIVE

Today we were scheduled guests to speak about James 5:16 Ministries at Moody Radio for the Roy Patterson show called Urban Praise!!! What an exciting day...we wrote notes for this adventure and THANK THE LORD we did...we were told that we would be doing a taping that would be broadcast on FM 90.1 on Mr. Patterson's show either this Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon...we arrived in the studio to find out...we were going to do this interview.....LIVE!!!! on his 3 o'clock AM1110 show!!
The whites of Lois' glassy eyes turned red and the rise in my blood pressure almost sent me off the stool I was perched on in the studio...we surely thought they were joking until the studio got quiet and the show engineer, Eric Townsend started reading the weather...It all turned out fine and we rose to the occasion...Mr. Patterson gave away two of our Tenacious PrayerBooks to listeners in his radio audience...What a fun day...and we even got an invitation to return...our prayer always is that hearts be encouraged and souls be won for the Lord....what more could we ask???