Anna Lee

Saturday

And all of you must put on the apron of humility,

to serve one another;

for the scripture says,

“God resists the proud,

but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (TEV)

Baptist Press

September 26, 2008

GEORGIA–‘Fireproof,’ on both sides of camera, promotes a biblical view of marriage. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29005

CALIFORNIA–‘Fireproof’ makes Hollywood premiere. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29006

GEORGIA–Director recounts making of ‘Fireproof.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29007

TENNESSEE–REVIEW (Dwayne Hastings): If you see only one movie this year…. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29008

NEW YORK–Land joins protest of Ahmadinejad dinner. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29009

TENNESSEE–MARRIAGE DIGEST: Calif. marriage amendment supporters lead in fundraising. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29010

TENNESSEE–IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Barack Obama & John McCain on the federal courts. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29011

ARGENTINA–Towers of solitude: Reaching Buenos Aires. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29012

ARGENTINA–Getting behind closed doors in Buenos Aires. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29013

ARGENTINA–Immigrants seek work, life in the city. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29014

ARGENTINA–A proud Muslim finds the path to peace. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29015

ARGENTINA–One by one, Jews seek Jesus in Buenos Aires. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29016

CUBA–Cuba’s hurricane survivors getting Baptist relief. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29017

VIRGINIA–WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): Cities: challenge of a new era. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29018

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): For naught: dinner with Ahmadinejad. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29019

Theda “Nana” Ovino
(June 16, 1929 – September 26, 2008)

Died at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2008 at Gulf States LTAC of Hammond in Hammond. She was a native of Piave, MS and a resident of Amite. Age 79 years. She was a member of Arcola Baptist Church. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier. She is survived by 2 sons, James J. Ovino, Jr., Metairie and Gregory Ovino, Baton Rouge; brother, William Newbill, Sacramento, CA; and many other loving family members. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Ovino; daughter, Sheila White; parents, George and Myrtle Newbill.

DOING

You probably heard about Larry Walters several years ago. Larry was a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. He went down to the local army surplus store one morning and bought forty-five used weather balloons. That afternoon he strapped himself into a lawn chair, to which several of his friends tied the helium-filled balloons. He took along a six-pack of beer, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, and a BB gun, figuring he could shoot the balloons one at a time when he was ready to land.

Walters, who assumed the balloons would lift him about 100 feet in the air, was caught off guard when the chair soared more than 11,000 feet into the sky — smack into the middle of the air traffic pattern at Los Angeles International Airport. Too frightened to shoot any of the balloons, he stayed airborne for more than two hours, forcing the airport to shut down its runways for much of the afternoon, causing long delays in flights from across the country.

Soon after he was safely grounded and cited by the police, reporters asked him three questions:

“Where you scared?” “Yes.”

“Would you do it again?” “No.”

“Why did you do it?” And I love this response. He said, “Because you can’t just sit there.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. What Larry Walters was a terribly stupid thing to do. But I wish more Christians had the attitude that we need to do be something — “because you can’t just sit there!”

Last week, I wrote about the importance of knowing, doing and being in our Christian lives. Yesterday, I expounded on the idea of “knowing.” Allow me this morning to say a few words about the need to “do”.

James wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22). He goes on to describe a man who reads the Bible, but he doesn’t put it into practice. He says he is like a man who looks in the mirror. He sees his hair is messed up, he needs to shave, he has a dirty smudge on his cheek, but he goes his way and does nothing about it. Looking in the mirror has done him no good. So is the man who reads God’s Word, but makes no effort to put what he reads into practice. But, “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25).

In Matthew 25, Jesus described the scene of the Day of Judgment. He describes the separation of the sheep from the goats (and our eternal destiny) based on what we have done. It is clear from the words of Jesus that Christianity is a series of verbs, action words — visit, feed, clothe, go, teach, encourage, give, love.

So, what are we accomplishing for the Lord? What are we doing? The Lord doesn’t demand the unusual or the sensational, but he does expect something. What are we doing? We’re not truly living Christian lives unless we’re doing the work of Christ. We don’t just need to know; we need to do.

We need to strive for balance in our spiritual lives. There are some Christians who spend all their time learning God’s will. Constantly studying, learning, getting a handle on every obscure passage and an argument against every false doctrine. But they never get around to doing. And there are others who are busy doing good works, but they haven’t spent enough time with God’s Word to know if they’re really following God’s will. But God’s desire is that we have both knowledge and obedience:

“That you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10).

May God make you “fruitful in every work” as you “have a walk worthy of the Lord.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Reminder: On Mission in Kentwood at 8 A.M. today.

Anna Lee

Friday

So be careful how you live,

not as fools but as those who are wise.

Make the most of every opportunity

for doing good in these evil days.

Don’t act thoughtlessly,

but try to understand

what the Lord wants you to do.

~Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)~

KOMpray

Kids of Mission Pray

Prayer requests

“Let the little children come to Me,

and don’t stop them,

because the kingdom of God

belongs to such as these,”

Luke 18:16b

GOD PROVIDES FAMILY

Missionaries show the love of Jesus to lots of people, and they always want the people to learn as much as they can about the Bible. A missionary in Colombia told a mother and her 12-year-old boy about Jesus. Both of them became followers of Christ! In your church when someone accepts Jesus, don’t they get baptized, start going to Sunday School, and learn more about the Bible? Well, this mom and son didn’t get to stay around long enough to learn much. They had to travel to a big city because the 12-year-old was VERY sick. He has to have a liver transplant.

The mom and son went to the city where there was a good hospital. It was the right thing to do, but they didn’t know the city well and they didn’t have any family or friends there. The mom just moved in to the hospital with her son. God is so good. He gave them new friends-new Christian family. The missionary called some friends in the city. They are now taking care of things the mom and son need-they are helping them with things like food and they are teaching them more about Jesus and the Bible.

Please pray for the mother and the boy. They are still waiting for a new liver so the boy can have his surgery. Also pray for the boy’s 9-year-old sister who is staying back home with her grandmother. Thank God that we have Christian family no matter where we are.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

I live in Tigoni, Kenya. The people there are poor and live in slums. There are 4 refugee camps my family works at. Pray that the violence will stop as soon as possible so that the camps can close soon. Then the people will get to go back home.

Also pray that school will go well. RACHEL, age 12, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for my friend, AG, to believe in God. MATT, age 9 (Pacific Rim)

pray for my sister and pray that we can get a home in Amarika. KORE, age 8 (Pacific Rim)

My friend, Krishna, is a Hindu. He comes to church sometimes. Pray he becomes a Christian. NICK, age 9 (South Asia)

Pray that I can be a friend to the Zambian children around our house and in our town. ISABEL, age 5, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for my studies and sports please pray for me to do well in these things WESLEY, age 12, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray that my friend in America will be able to cope with her family breaking up. ANA, age 11 (South Asia)

Please pray that the people in Moscow will not be afraid to share God’s Word.

And pray for many churches to be planted in Moscow. ROBERT, age 12 (Central and Eastern Europe)

There is an urgent prayer request from someone many of you know who is in another country. Please pray!

A. J. Hart
(March 24, 1956 – September 25, 2008)

Mr. A. J. Hart was born March 24, 1956 and passed away at 12:17PM on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. He was 52, a resident of Independence and the son of Mrs. Helen Johnson.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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

On Mission in Kentwood will be at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Please plan to join us as we show others we care.

Have a fantastic Friday!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…

and the Lord added to the church daily

those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

Mrs. Margaret Callihan has pneumonia and is in Hood’s for a few days. Please add her to your prayer list.

Jimmy Harrell has eye surgery today. Please pray for all to go well.

Thank you for praying for Wes’ dad (Charlie Banks). I’m forwarding an e-mail from Wes with the latest updates.

Jennie

Hello,Well, Dad is out of the Euroclinic and in the Bucharest house with us. Praz the Lord! Thank you all so much for your pryers and support We have set Dad up with a hospital bed and other equipment for his extended recovery. The physical therapist will start coming by tomorrow to help Dad with the walker. We have to give Dad his anti-blood clot shots each day (eek!). The doctor said that the next 12 days are critical as he still runs the risk of infection and blood clots. We cherish your pryers and we have felt His presence through this entire situation.

We really appreciate the funds that you collected to get Dad out of the Euroclinic. This has been a humbling and a faith building experience for all of us, to say the least!

We love you!
Psalm 20!
The Banks’ Family

Leon “Pete” Broussard Jr.
Mr. Leon “Pete” Broussard Jr. was born Nov. 5, 1927, and passed away at 12:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, at his home in Kentwood. He was the son of the late Leon B. and Mathilda Broussard. He was 80 and a native of Baton Rouge. Mr. Pete is survived by his wife, Beverly Morgan Broussard, Kentwood; daughter, Donna Blevins, Jackson; three stepdaughters, Barbara Lee Bourgeois, Atlanta, Constance “Connie” Headrick, Tampa, Fla., and Amanda Juneau, Greensburg; three stepsons, John Wayne Smith, Mount Hermon, Glenn Headrick, England, and Gary Headrick, France. Paw Paw Pete was a loving grandfather to 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Geraldine Legé; previous wives, Vera Doucet and Barbara Headrick; a sister, Gertrude Spracklen; and two brothers, Arthur Broussard and Earl Broussard. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Jude Catholic Church, Greensburg, on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m., with the Rev. Joe Camilleri, celebrant. Arrangements by McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite. An online guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com.

A friend shared this:

When we were in Georgia a few weeks ago we received the prayer guide below at church. We live in a sinful world surrounded by people who don’t know the Lord. They are looking for personal gain and power. Personally I look at most politicians and wonder why are they really running for a government office. As we prepare to vote not only for a new president but also for positions at the local and state level please pray for the persons who are God’s choices. Yes I know it is hard to tell at times.

The prayer guide began in August but please go back and pray and read the scripture that is listed.

The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful country to live in. Yes it has many problems now but as we look back at our history we can see how God has lifted us out of despair before and healed the land. Pray for him to heal this land again so the peoples can see God is the true leader and only through him can we be truly free!

Prayer Guide for the Presidential Election

It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election. There is amazing power in united prayer.

PRAY DAILY UNTIL THE ELECTION (and continue to pray for the newly elected afterwards)

Pray with others whenever possible. The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence and, indeed, do great things!

Granted, these dates are past, pray them anyway!

08/01-08/07 Psalm 32:6-7 Pray that Christians will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders.

08/08-08/14 Psalm 16:7-8 Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign.

08/15-08/21 Proverbs 16:13 Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray.

08/22-08/28 Psalm 18:32-36 Pray that the Lord would arm the man of His choice with strength; that He would guide him in battle (this election), and that He would sustain him and give him victory.

08/29-09/04 Hebrews 11:32-34 Pray that God’s man, through faith persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election.

09/05-09/11 Psalm 125 Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

09/12-09/18 Psalm 86:14-17 Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election.

09/19-09/25 2 Corinthians 12:9 Pray that the Lord would empower and enable His man in any area of weakness.

09/26-10/02 2 Kings 13:16 Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of his choice for president (and his team) and guide them in this election.

10/03-10/09 Proverbs 1:5-6 Pray that God’s man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign.

10/10-10/16 John 16:33 Pray that the man of God’s choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign.

10/17-10/23 Acts 17:30 Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation.

10/24-10/30 Luke 12:54-57 Pray that God’s man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

10/31-11/06 Philippians 4:13 Pray that the Lord’s choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God.

Habakkuk 1:5 and 3:2 Pray that the Lord would do some thing that would utterly amaze us and give His servant ability.

During the last days of October and through the week of the election, be encouraged to set aside a time of fasting these days to commit this election to the Lord in whom we put our trust. Acts 14:23

Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

KNOWING

I heard about a preacher who was talking with a man, and he asked him, “Do you know the Bible?” The man said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “What part of the Bible do you know the best?” The man said, “The New Testament.”

The preacher went on to ask him what part of the New Testament he knew the best. The man said, “Well, I suppose I know the story of the Good Samaritan best of all.” The preacher said, “Tell me that story.”

The man said, “Well, as best as I can recall, there was a good Samaritan traveling down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among the thorns and they sprang up and choked him and left him half dead.

“But a man came by feeding his swine and he said to the man, ‘I will arise and go to my father.’ So he took up his bed and walked. But while the soldiers were chasing him through the forest, he got the hair of his head caught up in the trees and he hung there 40 days and 40 nights, and the ravens fed him.

“Just then, Delilah came along with a big pair of shears and she cut off his hair and he fell on stony ground. But the good master of the house resurrected the man and he journeyed on his way.

“All of a sudden, he came to the wall of Jericho and there’s Jezebel sitting on the wall and she mocked him. And he said, ‘Chunk her down to the dogs.’ And they chunked her down 70 times 7, and great was the fall thereof, and of the fragments that remained they picked up twelve baskets full, and whose wife shall she be in the resurrection?”

Now I would hope that your Bible knowledge is not quite as bad as that, but I think it’s safe to say that few of us know the Bible as well as we should. In the last TFTD message, I spoke about three pillars of spritual growth — knowing, doing and becoming. God has always stressed the fact that his people need to know His word. And contrary to popular opinion, when it comes to spiritual matters, ignorance is not bliss.

In the days of Hosea, God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest for me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6).

What was the problem? It wasn’t that they didn’t have access to God’s Word. They just simply didn’t care enough about it to listen to it. Does it scare you just a bit to realize that God could possibly say the same thing about us – “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Folks, we need to once again become known as a people of the book, a people who study and know and love the Bible. Throughout the Bible, God’s repeated command to the people of God is “learn, study, grow.”

92% of households in this country have a Bible. We have the Bibles, but we don’t pay much attention to them. A Gallup poll from 2000 shows that only 59% of Americans read the Bible at least occasionally. The percentage of Americans who read the Bible at least once a week is 37%.

Contrast this with the people of Berea. We read in Acts 17, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

May we continue to study and learn and grow in our knowledge of God and our responsibility before Him.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a teriffic Thursday!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

There are three things that will endure –

faith, hope, and love –

and the greatest of these is love.

~1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)~

Pray for families who have lost loved ones through death recently.

Benefield family
Williams family
Dunn family
etc.

Pray for the lost family members that they may find salvation through Jesus.

Supply you personal family list.

Pray for many who have been housebound or requiring medical care lately.

Charley and Katherine Kuss
Nat McKinney
Hannah Shockley
Susie Wales
Annie Bell Harrell
etc.

Benefield, Jerry Nell McGeehe

East Fork Baptist Church, Kentwood, at 10:30 a.m.

Baptist Press

September 23, 2008

TENNESSEE–Hunt calls for a ‘Great Commission resurgence.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28973

TENNESSEE–Excellent progress at home & abroad, Chapman says. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28974

CALIFORNIA–Calif. Southern Baptist board endorses marriage amend. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28975

TEXAS–Ike recovery heads into long-term phase. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28976

LOUISIANA–ADVISORY: Hurricane deductibles threaten church budgets. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28977

GEORGIA–Despairing refugees find hope in feeding ministry. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28978

FLORIDA–FIRST-PERSON (James A. Smith Sr.): Saudi textbooks, religious freedom and why it matters. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28979

WEDNESDAY WINDOW ON THE WORLD – September 24, 2008

SHAN DAI OF CHINA, THAILAND AND LAOS (shawn-DIE). Most of the local workers are back from traveling to test the translation made of the Scriptures and to encourage other believers. Praise the Lord for answering your prayers for their safety and success in travel. In one area, the worker discovered 100 new Shan Dai believers! This is an awesome discovery. The local church in that area has really been evangelistic, and more Dai are believing than ever before. They are hungry for discipleship and the Word in their language. There are some issues that make it difficult to minister to these brothers and sisters. Please pray that there will be good relationships with the local government, and that these people will be strong in their newfound faith.

ASHENINKA OF PERU (ah-SHIN-uh-kah). The Asheninka Strategy Group writes: “Changes in our team makeup due to a loss of national workers has led to a decrease in our activity in the vast Ucayali River area where there are many Asheninka communities in need of a witness. Pray for the Lord to send help either through national or IMB workers to renew and sustain the work of church planting in this challenging region of central Peru’s jungle.”

BIBLE SCHOOLS OF TANZANIA. You are a father of five. In the middle of the night, your family was forced to run or be killed by rebels. You all walked for days and miles, wearing only the clothes on your backs. You had no food and worried every day that your children would die. One day you arrived at a refugee camp. You had a place to live, food to eat, and medical care. There were even schools and churches. It was not home, but it was safe and there were others there like you. You became a Christian and were growing in your faith. There was even a Baptist Bible school for you to attend when God called you to be a pastor. Now they have decided to close the refugee camp. You and your family are homeless–again. You wonder, “What will we do? Where will we go? We are afraid to return to our homeland because it is still not safe. What is God thinking?” This is the plight facing the pastors of the Mishamo Baptist Bible School. Pray for these pastors, their families, and other believers who are being displaced again. Pray that they will trust in God and that they will know that He will protect them and provide for them. Pray that their faith will be strong and that they will have opportunities to witness boldly to others who have lost all hope.

Have you ever had to run from your home at night to save your life?
Have you ever had just the clothing on your back?
Have you ever had no food and no way to prepare food if you had some?
Has your church home ever had to close down?
Be thankful if you can answer “No” to these questions.
Pray for those who can answer “Yes” to all of the questions.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Well done, my good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful

in handling this small amount,

so now I will give you many more

responsibilities.

Let’s celebrate together!”

Matthew 25:23 (NLT)

(Can you and I expect to hear “Well done”?)

See You at the Pole
at 7 a.m. Wednesday
By Staff

Baptist Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Students across the nation will gather to pray at the flagpole in front of their schools Wednesday as part of See You at the Pole, the annual student-led, student-initiated prayer event begun in 1990.

See You at the Pole — which typically takes place at 7 a.m. local time — gives students an opportunity to pray for one another, for their school and their nation, and it also allows Christians within each school to get to know one another.

The event started with a group of youth in Burleson, Texas, in 1990. This year’s theme is “Connect” — as in, connecting with God — and is based on the story of 1 Samuel 3. Samuel, organizers note, began his relationship with the Lord as a young person.

“It all started for Samuel when he made a connection with God at an early age,” a letter to students on the See You at the Pole website states. “And he chose to continue to connect with Him daily throughout his life. It’s tough being a Christian student today, isn’t it? You have to make a lot of choices about who you are — and who you’re not. You have to try and follow God in a world that misunderstands Christianity and tolerates its principles less and less all the time.”

The prayer-focused event is held at the beginning of the year intentionally, officials say, so that Christians who meet at the flagpole can then encourage one another throughout the school year.

Last year more than 2 million teenagers across the nation participated in See You at the Pole. Teens in Australia and Canada also hold their own events.

Compiled by Michael Foust, an assistant editor of Baptist Press. For more information about See You at the Pole, visit http://www.syatp.com.

I suggest you read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) at http://www.syatp.com to learn more.

We can pray today for the success of this international time of prayer on school campuses around the world. We can support students by standing with them as they pray.

Anna Lee

Monday Afternoon

Jerry McGehee Benefield
(January 18, 1929 – September 21, 2008)

Jerry McGehee Benefield
Mrs. Jerry McGehee Benefield, age 79, died on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at the home of her daughter, Robbi B. Herrington. She was the daughter of Holt and Gladys McDaniel McGehee, both of whom preceded her in death. She was born in Amite Co., Miss., at the home of her maternal grandfather. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Frank Douglas Benefield. Survivors include three daughters, Robbi B. Herrington and her husband, Tim, and Darnell B. Strickland and her husband, Billy, all of Kentwood; and Carolyn Daniels Weaver and her husband, Frank of Jackson, Georgia, five special grandchildren, Jason Daniels and his wife, Shelley, and Tynessa Daniels Dacus and her husband, Brad, all of Atlanta, GA, Chad Strickland and his wife, Stacy, of Kentwood, Julie Daniels Johns and her husband, Michael, of Kannapolis, North Carolina, and Garrett Frank Herrington of Kentwood; three wonderful great-grandchildren, Logan, Taryn and Levi Strickland, all of Kentwood; sisters: Katherine “Kitty” Bryan and her husband, David M. Bryan. Jr. of Kentwood, Bobbie Jean Coltharp of Brigham City, Utah, and JoAnn Ingram of Bogalusa; brother in-law, Roy Benefield and his wife, Ina of Osyka, Miss., sisters-in-law, Bettye Benefield of Orange, Texas, Patsy Benefield of Osyka, and Marie Benefield Bass and her husband, Jake of Mt. Ida, Arkansas; and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. Jerry loved to sew for her children and for others, and make crafts in the years she was able to. She had a deep love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her most wonderful birthday was the year little Levi Strickland, her great-grandson, was born on her birthday, Jan. 18, 2007. She was an avid L.S.U. fan. She liked working with her flowers and cooking for her family. For many years, she worked in the church nursery. Visitation services will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, on Tues. night from 6 to 9 p.m., and at East Fork Baptist Church, Kentwood, on Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. until religious services being at 11 a.m. at the church conducted by Rev. Don Bassett. Burial will be in East Fork Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be sons-in-law: Tim Herrington, Billy Strickland and Frank Weaver; and grandsons, Garrett Frank Herrington. Chad Strickland, Jason Daniels and Michael Johns. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Logan and Levi Strickland.

Alvie Leonard, Jr.
(August 20, 1941 – September 20, 2008)

Sign Guest Book

Mr. Alvie Leonard, Jr. born August 20, 1941, passed away on September 20, 2008 at 11:55AM at Tangi Pines Nursing Center, Amite. He was 67 and a native & resident of Amite. He is the son of the late Alvie & Leona Booty Leonard, Sr. Mr. Alvie is survived by his sister, Bernice Effie Piazza, Covington, numerous nieces & nephews, & special friends, Bobby Joe & Annette Chadwick, Amite, Jennifer Chadwick Bickham & husband, Dusty, St. Francisville, Christina Chadwick, Amite, Waco Bickham, Sidney Bickham & Peyton Bickham.

He is also preceded in death by brother, William Leonard & a half sister.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Sunday, September 28, 2008 after 2:00PM until Religious Services at 2:30PM in the Funeral Home Chapel. Interment in the Arcola-Roseland Cemetery.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

Monday

“I waited patiently for the Lord;

and He inclined to me,

and heard my cry.”

~Psalm 40:1~

Thank God for the great Lord’s Day He provided for us.

Several people continue to have tests, physical therapy, and other medical procedures. Please pray for them as they. Thank God for the progress some of them have made lately.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Craig and Julie Kendrick, who serve in France, learned that they would not be able to be established in the French Social Security System; consequently, they had return to the United States on Aug. 14. Because of serious health and educational concerns regarding their 4-year-old son, they will not be able to return to France. Ask God to shower this family with peace, joy and strength as they proceed through this very difficult time of transition. Please pray for the relationships on the field that God opened up to them, asking that these contacts will continue to develop their relationship with God through other IMB personnel in Paris. Pray for God’s direction for the Kendricks’ future as they make decisions regarding their ministry and family. Pray that their children will make new friends quickly, that they will find good schools that they enjoy, that their transition into their new culture will be smooth, and that their classmates will be excited to know the Lord as they hear the stories of the girls’ recent life in France.

Darnell Strickland’s mother passed away. I’ll post the obituary when it becomes available. In the meantime, begin to pray for and minister to this family.

Sunday

“For in that day

every man will cast away his silver idols

and his gold idols,

which your sinful hands

have made for you as a sin.”

~Isaiah 31:7, NASB~

(This verse, that was in an emai,l seems to fit my Sunday School lesson from I Samuel 7 perfectly.)

Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions

“God has provided the resources for us to minister to the critical needs of many people in our parish. At the same time, the lives of our volunteers have been blessed and enriched in a wonderful way,” reflects Brenda.

Day 8- Brenda Winburn

“…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday,” Isaiah 58:10. “God has provided the resources for us to minister to the critical needs of many people in our parish. At the same time, the lives of our volunteers have been blessed and enriched in a wonderful way,” reflects Brenda.

Brenda Winburn is the director of the Care and Share Ministry in Rayville. “We provide food and clothing, help people with emergency needs, hand out Bibles, pray with people, give out tracts with the food and seek to present a verbal witness of the gospel. We are the only ministry of this type in Richland Parish. This ministry was very instrumental in beginning the Rayville Baptist Christian Fellowship Church whose congregation is mostly African American,” says Brenda.

This care and share ministry is bringing joy to the lives of many people in the Rayville area. “A junior high school student came to his teacher who happened to be a member of First Baptist Church in Rayville and asked her, ‘How do you like my new jacket? Do you want to feel it?’ She said yes and touched the jacket. The student then unzipped it and showed her the inside and with great pride said, ‘This came from Care & Share,'” recalls Brenda.

Please pray that this ministry will be able to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people who come to Care & Share. Pray that they will be able to offer a weekly Bible study. Finally, ask God to give wisdom in the utilization of the new building and the possible expansion of this ministry to meet additional needs.

Saturday Evening

Charlie Banks update:

Praise God that he has been taken off of antibiotics.
Pray that his body will be cleansed of any foreign germs.

Praise God he is sitting up and changing positions in the bed.
Pray for Dad to be patient as he makes “small steps” towards recovery.

Praise God he took a couple of steps with a walker.
Pray for God to strengthen his muscles and harden his bones.

Praise God that there has been no infection or blood clots to this point.
The doctor said that day 8-day 20 are the most crucial days for blood clots and infection.
Pray for healthy blood and constant circulation.

Dad’s doctor said today that he may be able to fly home on November 1.
He may be released as early as Monday, but he will stay in Bucuresti.
The home we lived in last year is vacant, so he will stay there.
The doctor and physical therapist will visit him in the home for the next three-five weeks.

Praise God for a church family, friends and relatives in Georgia who are taking care of many details for Dad.
Pray that Dad’s mind can rest at ease full of God’s peace, as others handle his business and affairs.

Praise God for His prayer partners that are here, there and everywhere!
We have been amazed to receive emails from people we do not know who are located all over this world.

Thank you for loving our family and praying for us all.
Don’t forget to pray for the Gypsies (Rroma)!!

Loving Rroma in Romania, Tamara for the Banks family
http://www.teamromany.com

Alvie Leonard, Jr.
(August 20, 1941 – September 20, 2008)

Mr. Alvie Leonard, born August 20, 1941, passed away on September 20, 2008 at 11:55AM at the Tangi Pines Nursing Home, Amite. He was 67 and a resident of Amite. Mr. Alvie is survived by special friends, Bobby Joe & Annette Chadwick.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be finalized Monday, September 22, 2008.

Saturday Additions

Mrs. Ginger Francois, former KHS principal, is in a room at North Oaks. Please pray for Mrs. Francois, her family, and the medical staff caring for her.

I forgot to include the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering feature story for today.

“Our church is known in the community as a church that meets the needs of anyone who needs assistance. We also give generously to the Southern Baptist Convention programs and teach our RA, GA, and youth programs to give and serve as well,” reflects Matt. “Our theme is ‘Reaching the World for Christ through our Community’ – we believe in doing our part in reaching the world for Christ.”

Day 7- Matt Coussan

…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday,” Isaiah 58:10.

“Our church is known in the community as a church that meets the needs of anyone who needs assistance. We also give generously to the Southern Baptist Convention programs and teach our RA, GA, and youth programs to give and serve as well,” reflects Matt.

Matt Coussan is the pastor of Duson Baptist Church in Duson. One unique attribute of Duson is that it rotates church leadership positions quarterly in order to develop leadership and identify spiritual gifts. “Every church member fully understands we exist to reach those outside of church. Our theme is ‘Reaching the World for Christ through our Community’ – we believe in doing our part in reaching the world for Christ. We also do several community outreach projects such as an adult literacy program, “Round Up” riding horses, and hay rides through the community. Duson also takes mission trips to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe,” states Matt.

Duson Baptist is sharing the transforming power of God’s love to its surrounding community. “Our current music minister has come from leading karaoke in bars and night clubs to leading worship on Sunday mornings,” says Matt. “Due to the church’s discipleship mentality he was able to get involved and use his talents for the Lord. He is now discipling and influencing others.”

Please pray for new families to move into the area. Pray that Duson Baptist is able to pay off their building note. Ask God for a smooth transition as Duson Baptist goes through a change in music leadership.