Thursday

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

~Isaiah 40:29~

 

Mike Strickland of Osyka is a little better.  He’s still in the McComb hospital.  Keep him and his family in your prayers.

 

Cheryl Dillon‘s retina repair was more difficult than expected, but hopefully will be fine.  She will be going through the coming days with her head face-down twenty-four hours a day for a while.  Please remember her in your prayers.

 

 

Missionary Prayer Needs

Central Asian Peoples

“The greatest missionary of all is the Bible in a person’s own language” (Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe, SIL). A minority Central Asian man told a majority culture woman that he had discovered a Bible reading website and had been secretly reading for some time. Praise God that with only the Bible and no other believers around, he had made a decision to put his faith in Jesus!

Porto Alegre, Brazil

(POR-toh Ah-LEG-ray) – Please pray for rest and renewal for the family of missionaries Joel and Tamara Whitenton while they are on stateside assignment. Pray that they will connect with those in the United States who will be faithful intercessors and partners in the work in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Pray that family time will be edifying and that they will find deep rest.

Pearl People of East Asia

Several months ago, James* became very depressed and laid in bed all day. Finally, after a rather violent outburst, his parents sent him to a mental hospital. After being there for 20 days, his condition worsened. He became unresponsive to others and just sat on his bed, rocking back and forth. The doctors eventually released him to his parents’ care. About this time, Sarah*, a young woman on a volunteer team, felt led to visit James and his mother. She wanted to share her story with them because she had also struggled with depression. During her visit, James wouldn’t listen and walked out; however, Sarah continued to share her testimony with James’ mother of how God had helped her. She encouraged his mother to read the Bible out loud with James each day. She also left cards containing Bible verses in their language for them to read daily. After just a couple of days, James’ mother called to say that he was much better and they’d been reading the Bible together. Praise the Lord that now both have accepted Christ and are attending church regularly! James is back at work, and his mother is full of joy. She can’t thank God enough for healing her son. Praise God for the power of his Word! Ask him to provide a brother to disciple James and encourage him one on one. Pray for James’ mother to continue growing deeper in her faith and for his father to come to know Jesus. (*names changed)

European Peoples

“Europe is known to be an exciting tourist destination, full of rich history and landmarks. There are castles, bell towers, cathedrals, and museums across the continent. However, looking beyond the landmarks, what do we see? As Baptist representatives live and work daily among Europeans, we see a lack of hope. Especially during January and other winter months, the skies are gray and the Christmas markets have disappeared; people return to daily routines of life, and most never even think about God. Yes, it is cold, dreary, and in some places, very wet. There is a depressive atmosphere that pervades and is especially noted in conversations that reveal no hope for the future. The prayer emphases this year in the European peoples affinity group is: ‘For an Awakening Spirit! (Across Europe and Europeans).’ Please join us in prayer as we share the gospel, and ask the Lord for an awakening spirit to spread across Europe. In Romans 13:11-12 (NASB), Paul says: ‘Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.’ Pray for Baptist representatives to bear the armor of light as we share the gospel with Europeans so that their lives will become filled with the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

 

 

Patricia Wilson Bradshaw

May 30, 1954 – January 20, 2018
Born in Dallas, Texas
Resided in Springfield, Virginia

(Lived in Osyka)

Patricia (Patti) Wilson Bradshaw (63) passed away on 20 January 2018 at her home in Springfield Virginia.

Patti was born in Dallas, Texas to Flint and Dell Wilson. She spent her childhood days in Osyka Mississippi, and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in Microbiology and laboratory Technology. She started her professional career at MD Anderson in Houston and after 2 years there she volunteered for the Baptist foreign medical mission in Pusan, Korea.

On 1 April 1981, she entered the United States Air Force as a Biomedical Science Core Officer and was commissioned as a captain and immediately outranked both her brothers serving in the Air Force at the time. She was very proud of that accomplishment and never let her brothers forget she outranked them! Patti spent 9.5 years in the air force as a medical technology laboratory officer and staff officer. She had assignments to Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, Torrejon AFB in Spain and Brooks AFB in Texas where she met her husband Patrick Bradshaw.

They married 20 Oct 1990. Patti left active duty in 1991 and was a stay at home mom. She had 3 children, Michael, Kathleen and Eilise, all the focus of her life.

In 2004 (after a lengthy diagnostic process), Patti was diagnosed with Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma and was told she had anywhere from 6 months to 18 months to live. Patti was never one to “give up” and with the support of her family, the Church, the local community, tremendous medical availability, and internal resolve, Patti lived to see her youngest daughter enter college, her oldest daughter join the Army and marry Stewart Kirk on 19 January 2018, and her son become an accomplished cellist and make significant progress towards earning a college degree.

Patti was a convert to Catholicism, studied the doctrine of the Catholic Church and lived her faith with gusto and fervor. She was a model of how to live against odds and seldom if ever complained of her specific maladies. She is survived by her husband Patrick Bradshaw, 3 children Michael, Kathleen and Eilise, Step daughter Jennifer Trimble, Brother Marc Wilson, David Ott Wilson, (the 2 Air Force members Patti outranked) and her sister Elizabeth Roberts.

We love you and miss you dearly Patti. May you rest in peace and let perpetual light shine upon you!

 

Debra Rene’ Blades Michael

November 05, 1963 – January 21, 2018

Debbie passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018 in Blackwell, Oklahoma, while traveling to her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, after a 20 years battle with multiple Sclerosis. She was born November 5, 1963 in Amite, LA to J.C. and Alice Lebo Blades. A true country girl at heart, she loved telling people we met across the country that she was raised in the piney woods of Greensburg, LA and that on the 8th day, God created St. Helena Parish. She was a 1982 graduate of Oak Forest Academy, a graduate of Lockworks Academy and held counseling licenses in South Dakota and Minnesota. During the last 7 years, Debbie and Matt divided their time between Amite and their home in South Dakota. Together they traveled throughout America, seeking out new places off the beaten path and visited 42 states. Their travels together brought them across North America, Central America and Europe. She never once allowed her illness to break her spirit or slow her down. Sadly, shortly after her mother’s death in April 2017, the Multiple Sclerosis began taking its toll at a rapid pace. Debbie left this life doing exactly what she loved, being on the open road with Matt, chasing the sun. She is survived by her husband, Matthew Michael; her daughter, Chloe Jane Whiddon, Natchitoches LA; father, J.C. Blades, Amite; 2 step sons, Nicholas Michael, Church Point, LA and Alex Michael, Church Point, LA; step daughter, Lacey Kent, Fluker, LA; and her uncles, Paul Blades, Saucier, MS and Albert Lebo, Mt. Hermon. Preceded in death by her son, Clinton Levi Freeman; and her mother, Alice Lebo Blades. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 PM until 9 PM on Sunday and from 11 AM until religious services at 1 PM Monday, January 29, 2018. Services conducted by Rev. Darryl Miller. Interment Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation per Debbie’s request. The family would like to thank all Debbie’s friends from Oak Forest Academy that were there for her and helped out during this time For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

 

Lanasue Irene Horne Westmoreland Fairburn

Lanasue Irene Horne Westmoreland Fairburn passed away January 13, 2018 at St. Francisville Country Manor at the age of 68.

She is survived by daughter Lisa Westmoreland Deer and husband Mark Deer of Hammond, LA, grandsons Jared and Bradley Jenkins of Florida, brother Terry Horne of Walker, 2 sister-In-Laws Frances Parham Horne and Judy Larkin Horne, numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents Audrey Mae Lea Crawford and Woodrow Wilson Horne, Sr., brother Woodrow Wilson Horne Jr., brother Danny Ray Horne, grandparents Bertha Irene White Lea and Festus Marion Lea ,Aunt Elsie Lea Blades, Uncle Bernell Lea And husband Jerome Fairburn.

Lanasue will never be forgotten and will always remain in the hearts of those who loved her dearly.

 

 

Read the Bible

  • Exodus 13-14
  • Psalm 11
  • Matthew 21

 

 

Bible Study

  • Friday morning at 10
  • Fellowship Hall of FBC, Kentwood
  • Ezekiel

 

 

Many people are still dealing with bad colds, coughs, or the flu.  Pray for good recovery for them. 

Anna Lee