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Missionary Willis Reed lay weak and helpless on the bank of the Ganges, his 12 year old son by his side. With the nearest doctor being 20 miles away, Reed’s fever raged out of control. A sad reality began to take shape, he was dying. Hours earlier, Reed and his son were driving home to Dhanbad, India. The day was hot and they had stopped at a roadside stand for a cold Indian drink called a lassi. As Willis took a gulp, he felt shards of a broken glass cutting into his throat. Immediately he knew that he needed medical attention but, despite their rush, they reached the Ganges River too late and they had missed the last ferry of the day. Willis spent the night with his son along the side of the river, a night in his deteriorating condition he did not think he would survive. Yet, to the amazement of Willis and his son, he awoke the next morning in perfect health. Only later would he discover why.
While preaching in Arizona on furlough 2 years later, Willis was approached by a lady that he did not recognize. “I saw you in a vision” she began “You were laying on the bank of a river. I never meet you, but God spoke to me your name and told me to pray for you. I prayed until I felt assurance the need had been met”. Willis asked her when this was, it was the same night two years earlier when he way lying dying on the Ganges river bank. God has spoken to a person he had never met thousands of miles away, causing her prayers to work a miracle in his life! We serve a miracle working prayer answering God, have you called on Him today?
This Sunday we are privileged to have with us Pastor Jim Arbogast. Pastor Jim and Becky Arbogast came to take over the newly planted church, Mandarin Assembly of God, 40 years ago. They came by faith and we used mightily in this church and community. We are so blessed to welcome them back this Sunday for the 8:30 am and 10:45 am service to bring the Word. After the second service we will have our membership class in the café. Starting next Sunday we will get back to complete our study of the book of Daniel. Last Sunday we completed our study of our mission/vision “Loving God, Loving People, Reaching Our World”. That message out of 1 Thessalonians 1 that shares the four key elements of a successful church and believer can be heard here: index.php-option=com_biblestudy&player=1&view=popup&Itemid=&template=1&mediaid=220
This Saturday, and every Saturday night, is the ENCOUNTER in the ministry center at 7 pm. We will have the young adult worship team from Calvary Christian Center lead us this Saturday night to the throne and enjoy a wonderful time of worship, prayer, testimonies and a powerful encounter with the living God!
This coming Wednesday night will be the last video in our Transformation series. How inspiring it has been to see these video’s of communities around the world transformed by praying churches and the power of God, then to have an opportunity every night to pray for our community to experience the transforming visitation of God’s love and power. On Wednesday, February 8th, we will begin our new classes. I will have the prayer class in the prayer room. Our topic will be on studying the names of God and enjoying spending time in prayer and worship. Pastor Eddie’s class will be in the café. We will have a class that will begin on the 15th in the office classroom taught by Greg Piampiano and George Franko that will be the newest series by John Bevere called “Relentless”.
February 19th at 6 pm in the Ministry Center will be our annual business meeting. We will be sharing about another record breaking year in missions giving, the exciting things happening with the Children’s and Youth ministries, and the wonderful things we are believing for the Lord to accomplish in 2012 at Freedom Christian Fellowship.
Keep believing, our greatest days are just ahead!
Blessings,
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