Author: Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

Request from Raymond Cutrer

Please forward this email to anyone you know who will pray for Mike Pyszka’s family.  (See email below).  Mike’s wife is expecting their first child in January.  Mike lived in Colorado and worked for Cam2 International.  Cam2 and Smitty’s has a very close business relationship and Mike worked close with many people here at Smitty’s.  He was fine a couple of days ago.

Hey gang,

I just wanted to alert you all that Mike Pyszka died this morning around 11:00AM Denver time.   As many of you know, Mike was a Brain Cancer survivor.   He had a tumor removed 5 ½ years ago….He did mandatory 6 month MRI’s as check up’s…his last being 5 months ago, and he was perfectly clean.   I just hung up with his wife and she told me that he had a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his head and there was nothing that could have been done.   I will find out funeral arrangements as soon as they are made for those of you who are interested.   Please pass along the information to anyone that I omitted from this email.

Thanks

Steve

Tuesday Addition

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Week of Prayer – Day 3

The Deaf of Czech Republic

Mark and Vesta Sauter came to the Czech Republic to start churches among the nation’s 50,000 Deaf. They never would have guessed 90-year-old Lillian Beard would be key to their work.

The child of Deaf parents, Lillian was a pioneer for Deaf work among Southern Baptists and longtime friend of Vesta.

Despite protests from friends, Lillian was determined to come help the Sauters. Vesta arranged for her to speak at a Deaf community center in Prague, where her testimony touched a particularly hard-hearted Deaf Czech named Anna Smolkova, who gave her life to Christ.

Anna became the Sauters’ church-planting partner. God used her to lead dozens of Deaf to Christ, including many of her own family. Six Deaf churches now meet across the country as a direct result of Anna’s efforts.

The Sauters also credit Southern Baptists’ commitment to pray when their ministry was a focus for the 2001 Week of Prayer.

Ten years after Lillian’s visit, Anna continues to share Christ among Deaf Czechs. Until Lillian’s death at 101 in June 2010, she had remained an active advocate for the Deaf and for her Savior. The Sauters now lead the IMB’s global efforts to reach the Deaf.

Pray God will give Southern Baptists a passion for seeing the world’s Deaf know Jesus as Lord.

Tuesday

“For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”

Luke 1:48a (NIV)

There will be an associational Lottie Moon Tea Saturday at East Fork Baptist Church at 2 P.M.  If you are a lady between 5 and 105, you are invited to come learn more about this great missionary and enjoy some tea cakes made using her recipe with a cup of hot tea or chocolate.  It will be fun and informative.  Call me if you need more information.  I hope to see you there.

From Action News 17 concerning Jon-Michael Williams

Williams continues to blink his eyes, move his toes, and give other indications that he is potentially aware of both physical and audio stimulus, sources told ActionNews17.com this week.

Friends and family breathed a sigh of relief after Monday’s perfusion tests came back with positive results for the teen, whom doctors say faces a long road to recovery but that with time it is possible.I have three obituaries today.  Please pray for the families.

Thank-you for praying for Jon-Michael as he had the tests yesteray.

I have three death notices today.

Edward Earl Montz, Jr.

(May 24, 1945 – November 28, 2010)

Edward Earl Montz, Jr. was born May 24, 1945 and passed away at 12:37 a.m., Sunday, November 28, 2001 at his residence. He was 65, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Ponchatoula. Edward served our country in the US Army during the Vietnam Conflict.

Edward is survived by his wife, Angela Ryals Montz, Ponchatoula; daughter, Jeanna Montz King, Shreveport; 3 sons, Edward E. Montz, III, Kentwood, Matthew Laros Montz and Jonathan Henry Montz both of Ponchatoula; 4 grandchildren, Joshua Brian King, Jennifer Nicole King, Edward Earl Montz, IV and Alexis Rachea’ Montz; 2 brothers, Larry William Montz and Richard “Rick” Henry Montz and wife, Vicki; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by parents, Edward Earl Montz, Sr. and Blanche Hoffstadt Montz; 2 sisters, Jeanne Marie Montz Meyer and Sandi Elizabeth Montz.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, December 2, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services in the funeral home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Johnny Presley officiating. Interment in Hoffstadt Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.

An on-line guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy.#16 West (Exit #46) next to Bill Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’s Carwash and Holiday Inn Express.

Adam John Banas
(January 22, 1971 – November 25, 2010)

A resident of Amite, he died at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at his residence. He was born January 22, 1971 in North Hampton, MA and was 39 years of age. He is survived by his daughter, Tiffany Banas, Amite; father, John Banas and his wife, Karen, Queen Creek, AZ; sister, Karie Vasquez, Apache Junction, AZ. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kim Banas; and mother, Debra Banas. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 4 p.m. until memorial services at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

James S. Lambert

(October 8, 1936 – November 28, 2010)

A resident of Kentwood, he died at 10:55 a.m. on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was born October 8, 1936 in Kentwood and was 74 years of age. He retired from the Forensic Unit at East Louisiana State Hospital. Survived by, 2 sons, James Lambert and his wife, Gwen, French Settlement and David Lambert and his wife, Delores, Abita Springs; 3 grandchildren, Nicole, Amanda and Randy. Preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Deanie Lambert. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

Be alert to the weather reports!  Say a prayer for those who have had homes damaged or destroyed this morning.  Help in any way you can.

Anna Lee

Anna Lee

Monday

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me.”

~Psalm 34:4a~

Thank-you for the prayers for Jon-Michael Williams.  He was able to show encouraging signs over the weekend.  He will have more tests today.  Keep praying.

Mr. Gordon Price is hospitalized in McComb because of pneumonia.  Please add him to your prayer list.

Callie Cole

Hey,
All is well.  Callie is continuing with her therapy as this thanksgiving holiday comes to a close.  Hope you all have had a joyous, thankful season.  We sure have an abundance to be thankful for like health and salvation not to mention all the little blessing He bestows on us.
This week we ask for your prayers as we travel to Callie’s doctor appointment.  We will be traveling back to Atlanta for a follow up visit.  We do have several questions and are hoping for suggestions that will help us better serve her needs.
Thanks so much for all your prayers.  Please remember the reason for the season.  May I challenge you to do something different this year…….like a silent, unmentioned blessing for someone that needs a Jesus kiss!!  Something that gives only Him the glory.  Think outside the box!!
Keep it real.

Frances

Lottie Moon Week of Prayer for International Missions

Day Two

The people of Cuba

Retired Cuban Baptist pastor Víctor González is a “walking evangelist” along the rugged roads of Cuba’s mountainous countryside. Last year he made 2,640 home visits—all on foot—to share the gospel with rural Cubans.

A 90-year-old widower, Victor shows no signs of slowing down. “Pray that the Lord will lengthen my life to be able to keep on working in His service,” he says. “Pray that Cuba and the whole world will be won to Christ.”

Víctor’s zeal for evangelism is typical among Christians in Cuba, who are seeing one of the fastest rates of church growth in the world.

Cuban Baptist churches numbered 210 in 1960. In the 1990s, a church-planting movement began. Today, there aren’t enough churches to hold all the believers. Cuban Baptist traditional churches, missions, and house churches number more than 6,200; most meet in houses, garages, yards or on rooftops.

This growth has created a demand for more church leaders. To help meet that need, a team of IMB missionaries travels frequently to Cuba to help Cuban Baptists train leaders. Your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® support this ministry.

“This is God’s time for Cuba,” says one of these missionaries.

Pray God will raise up church leaders for the harvest. Pray a sufficient number of leaders will be trained.

Lottie Moon Thank-You from the Hatchels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSdrfzKMVg8

I hope you have time to view this.

Have a marvelous Monday!

Anna Lee

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 2010

Week of Prayer, Nov. 28-Dec. 5, 2010

May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise you (Psalm 67:3, NIV).

It’s a beautiful vision: People who speak Kirmanjki and Kabyle, Thai and Tatar, and use sign language in Czech—all knowing and praising God. It’s a vision that comes closer to being realized every year as Christians seek unreached people groups to tell them the story of Jesus.

Southern Baptists have followed God’s lead to focus attention on bringing all the world’s peoples to Him. And God has responded to the faithfulness of His people. There is much to celebrate!

Are we there yet? Not yet.

But for the first time in history, we can identify the people groups that remain untouched by the Gospel. We can get there in our generation! But that last part of the journey may be the hardest. It will take all of us—our churches, our missionaries, our national partners, our Great Commission partners.

Southern Baptists must continue to increase their giving to support missionaries through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®. They must pray strategically. And they must own the Great Commission as never before to see that all peoples know Him.

Day 1

Thai Prison ministry

The day Arti was released from prison, his aunt brought him to a Christian halfway house in Bangkok.

Arti had served five years for a drug conviction. During that time, his Christian aunt visited him, bringing a Bible and daily devotional readings.

But he didn’t really understand what he was reading until he arrived at the halfway house.

“I studied the Bible until I [was] sure that God loves me and Jesus died for me,” he said.

Pastor Soonthorn Soonthorntarawong established the house when he saw that newly released prisoners, often rejected by their families and Thai society, needed help. The first church in Thailand for former prisoners stands nearby.

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® helped make the halfway house and church possible. Both are outgrowths of a prison ministry begun in 1971 by IMB missionary Jack Martin. In the early 1980s, Pastor Soonthorn joined Jack in the work and eventually assumed leadership of the ministry when Jack and his wife, Gladys, retired in 1999.

Arti remembers the hopelessness that prisoners feel.

“They … feel that no one cares and no one loves them,” he says. “Only Jesus is the answer.”

Pray for the work of the Christian Prison Ministry Foundation that reaches into 60 of the 120 prisons throughout Thailand.
———-

Sunday

“Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters.

And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by.

Do your best.”

~Colossians 3:22 (MSG)~


Mary Alice McCormick

A retired bus driver for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, Mary Alice McCormick passed away at her residence at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. She was 86 and a native and resident of Baton Rouge. A memorial visitation will be at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, on Saturday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. until the memorial service at 11 a.m. There will be a private inurnment at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy M. and Steve Bryan; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Wiley D. and Sharall McCormick, Tommy L. and Janis McCormick, and Keith McCormick; stepson and daughter-in-law, Billy and Cheryl McCormick; sister, Mae Beaubouef; 14 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, Emile H. McCormick; parents, James W. and Anna Jane Stuckey Tanner; sister and three brothers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society , 10528 Kentshire Court, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. Please visit the online guestbook at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

The annual week of prayer for international missions begins today.

What is the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®?

Southern Baptist churches collect the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. Every penny of the offering goes to the International Mission Board’s overseas budget, thus supporting our missionaries and their work.

What is the goal for this year’s offering?

The goal for the 2010 offering is $175 million.

What is the 2010 theme?

The 2010 theme is “Are we there yet?”

For the first time in history, we can identify the people groups that remain untouched by the Gospel. We can get there in our generation! But that last part of the journey may be the hardest. It will take all of us – our churches, our missionaries, our national partners, our Great Commission partners.

(IMB Website)

http://www.imb.org/main/default.asp

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

Everything you do must be done with love.

~1 Corinthians 16:14 (NLT)~


Think of all the shoeboxes that are on their way to little children all around the world.  Thank-you if you were one who packed a shoebox or several shoeboxes.  If you didn’t, pray about packing some next year.  Not only will little children receive gifts, but also the message of Jesus.  You will receive a great blessing in sharing with others.

Please pray for Jon-Michael Williams today.  He is having some important tests today.  Hopefully, he will be able to wake up soon.  Pray for his family and friends as you pray for him.

Have a great day!  Remember to do some things today that will make Sunday less hectic.

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Anthony “Tony” Costanza
(December 20, 1944 – November 24, 2010)

Anthony “Tony” Costanza was born on December 20, 1944 and passed away at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center in Independence, La. He was 65, a native of New Orleans, La. and a resident of Amite, La.

He is survived by 1 Daughter and son-in-law, Laura Constanza Betbeze and husband James of Covington, La.; 1 Grandson, John Kovesdi, Metairie, La.; 1 Brother, Louis Phillip Costanza, Amite; 1 Sister, Amy Smith, Kentwood.

Preceded in Death by his Parents, Louis and Norma Tege Costanza, 1 Son, Jeffrey Paul Costanza

Visitation at McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, November 29, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment in Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, La.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N and Hwy.#16W (Exit #46) next to Bill Hood Automotive.

Ruth Hyde Spring

(March 5, 1929 – November 25, 2010)

A loving wife, mother, sister and aunt passed away at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at her residence in Albany at the age of 81 years. She was born March 5, 1929 in Chesbrough, was a member of Blood River Baptist Church and loved spending her time sewing. She was a very good momma to her son, Donald Craig Spring, Albany; Also survived by her brother, George Hyde and his wife, Mildred, Amite; sister, Wilda Hayden and her husband, Ellis, Baton Rouge; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Archie G. Spring; parents, Willie and Lillian Hyde. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 27, 2010. Services conducted by Rev. Charles Reitz. Interment Hyde Cemetery, Chesbrough. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Louisiana Children’s Home.

Friday

From Becky Williams

Please pray for Hunter Thompson, newborn son of Lance and Lindsey Thompson. He is currently at Tulane and may be transferred to Houston. Thank you for your prayers for Hunter and his family.

Jadon’s Story

An angel to watch over me.

Happy Thanksgiving. I am 15 months old today. I finally got my blood work back. My keppra level was double what it is suppose to be. My mommy was so mad that it took them so long to figure out why I was sleeping so much. We aren’t 100% sure but that was probably causing more seizures as well as me being sick and getting another tooth. Well we decreased the keppra Tuesday night and guess what I’m a different baby today. It will take a couple of days to level out but I look much better finally. I had to get an antibiotic shot yesterday too. I can’t get over this congestion and cough. They also changed my antibiotic so hopefully I will get well. We finally heard back from Boston. They said my recommended calories, fats, and carbs are correct for the diet but my serving size of foods is off. They just said they are not planned out well and they agree that it would be hard to feed a 15 month old those servings. So we are in the process of finding a dietitian here. In the meantime we have an appointment in Boston December 13. We will go and see their keto team and get this diet fixed. Instead of working with 1 dietitian, we will get to work with a team of 4 people. I just have so much going on right now. Many of you know I lost my great grandmother yesterday. She was 90 years old. Mommy said to not be sad. I now have another angel to watch over me and help me get better. We love you Dot Dot and you will be missed by all of us. Mommy said she will teach me to make your stuffed peppers and king cakes when I get big enough. You were an amazing person and we love you very much.

Mrs. Ruth Hyde Spring passed away yesterday.  I’ll post more information later.