Monday, August 29, 2016

August Ministry Report

How The Lord Used Us In August of 2016

Hello Partners in Ministry:

We started our month with knee surgery. The few people I know whom have had the surgery, said it was easy, pretty much painless, with a VERY fast recovery. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. Complicating a complex tear of the meniscus, there was some arthritis that they needed to grind off. Perhaps that was the difference in recovery and healing time. I was unable to walk for four days, and as a result, I reluctantly had to cancel a full weekend of ministry in Cape May Courthouse, NJ. I had a Walk thru the Bible Old testament seminar scheduled in one church, and preaching at 3 services at another. For the first time in our eight years of doing this ministry I had to postpone the ministry due to health issues. It just wasn’t possible to drive 11 hours to NJ just 3 days after the surgery. But God is in control! The Walk thru has been postponed until September 10th and the preaching will have to wait until some time in 2017. I am hoping to finally get off the crutch this week.

As a result of the surgery, we were left with only one MAD Live Event for the month of August. It was held in Canton, NC and was a direct result of the Live Event we did with Billy Graham’s 106.9 Radio Station in April. We praise God for one man who gave his life to Christ at the event and it looks like doors will be opened for several more trainings in the area. I also had the opportunity to speak to a group of church leaders at the Shenandoah Christian Alliance in Front Royal, VA. I shared our ministry with those in attendance and expect doors to open there. Finally, to close out the month I preached at 3 services at the Valley Forge Baptist Temple in Valley Forge, PA. One lady gave her life to Christ at the first service! Hallelujah!!

Praise! God has provided us with a huge opportunity for exposure and impact in September. I was contacted by the Pocket Testament League and they asked me to partner with them to help equip the Pro-Life movement to effectively share the Gospel. The plan is to begin with a half hour Facebook Live session near the end of September. This date will be dedicated to identifying the fears that keep us from sharing our faith and how to overcome them. Lord willing, many more will follow. Spread the word!

Some MAD Grad testimonies to encourage you and praise God for:

“Upon arriving for Sunday School, Mike and Brenda (he's the one who was a former policeman and truck driver) who attended M.A.D. on Saturday excitedly told me that shortly after arriving home a neighbor lady whom they had been supporting emotionally because of a recent split up with her husband came by and inquired about where they had been. When they explained about the M.A.D. event and what it was all about, she unexpectedly said, "I've never been saved, how do I do that?" Talk about a door opening! Mike and Brenda proceeded to explain the plan of salvation, prayed with her, and she accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior there in their living room!! In this case, I think Mike and Brenda sowed the seed, watered it, and saw the harvest. Who knows what other human influences entered into her decision but God definitely was at work all the time.”

“Another M.A.D. attendee told me Sunday that the event was "life changing" for him and that he would never leave home without his tracts and pocket testaments again as tools to enhance his witness for Christ.”

“I meet many people every day. I have seen young girls with cuts running up their arms. They hurt so much until they cut themselves to dull the pain. I have seen some who just need someone to tell them that someone loves them. They need to know that Jesus loves them. We can do it through God's Word. I will use the Gospels of John.”

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER SCHEDULES

Thank you for your continued prayers regarding our schedule. God is at work answering them!

• Sept 10 - Walk thru the Bible Old testament Seminar – Cape Community Church, Cape May Courthouse, NJ (Rescheduled from August 20th)

• Sept 11 - MAD Live Event - Chester Gap Baptist Church, Chester Gap, VA

• Sept 18 - MAD Live Event - Richfield Springs Bible Church, Richfield Springs, NY

• Sept 24 - MAD Live Event - Living Word Community Church, Dumont, NJ

• Sept 28 - Speak at the Lehigh Valley Care Net 35th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser, Allentown, PA

• Sept 29 - MAD Live Event - Lehigh Christian Academy

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• Oct 1 - MAD Live Event - Agape New Testament Fellowship, Schnecksville, PA

• Oct 2 - Preach - Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship, Nazareth, PA

• Oct 3-7 - MAD Live Event - Lehigh Valley Christian High School Spiritual Life Week

• Oct 8 - MAD Live Event - People’s Church of Potterbrook, Westfield, PA

• Oct 9 - Preach at morning worship service, People’s Church of Potterbrook, Westfield, PA

• Oct 15 - MAD Live Event - Worldwide Christian Scuba Divers Association meeting, Hollywood, FL

• Oct 22 - MAD Live Event – Round Hill Baptist Church, Lexington, SC

• Oct 22 - Preach at Saturday evening service - The Harvest, Lexington, SC

• Oct 23 - Preach at both morning worship services - The Harvest, Lexington, SC

• Oct 23 - MAD Live Event - The Harvest, Lexington, SC

• Oct 29 - Speak at Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conference, Rochester, NY

• Oct 30 - MAD Live Event - Community Bible Church, Lockport, NY

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• Nov 6 - MAD Live Event and preach at both AM Worship Services - The Harvest, Columbia, SC

• Nov 19 - MAD Live Event - Emmanuel E.C. Church, Bethlehem, PA

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For continued and complete healing of my knee

• Please continue to pray for our schedule. We are now working to fill 2017!

Love in Christ,

Cathy and Don

Sunday, August 28, 2016

August Ministry is in the Books

We completed our August formal ministry today. I was privileged to preach twice this morning and at the evening service at the Valley Forge Baptist Temple. I met some wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord and we praise God for one salvation this morning. I am SO looking forward to presenting the MAD Live Event sometime in 2017.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

MAD Live Event in NC today

I completed the first MAD Live Event since my knee surgery today in Canton, NC. 42 people attended and one man gave his life to Jesus Christ! PTL!! Although the numbers were small, it appears that there will be a number of additional bookings coming from this event. Even though I had to sit on a stool for most of the presentation, it went well. Thanks for your continued prayers!

Friday, August 19, 2016

From a reading plan in the Bible app..

Just Do It (Um … not the Nike slogan.) If you read today’s verse from Matthew in its original language, it actually starts off “As you are going ...” What this means for us is as you’re living your life, you should be sharing your faith with others. You don’t have to stand on a street corner shouting at people that they’re going to hell. Jesus didn’t do that, so you don’t have to either. Just live your life and be intentional about sharing what God’s done for you. Let’s say you play football—maybe you hate football—but for this example you play football. Would people say you’re a football player who happens to be a Christian or a Christian who happens to play football? See the difference? Are you a Christian first or the other way around? As you’re going out and doing the things you do, be a Christian first, and let people see it.

Monday, August 1, 2016

How The Lord Used Us In July of 2016

Hello Partners in Ministry:

At the beginning of this month we were in Utah, having just started this year’s Ultimate Adventure trip. There were a total of 13 on the trip. We had an amazing time of adventure and were able to plant and water some Gospel seeds on the trip. We were also blessed to have been able to stop and see my brother and sister-in-law in their new home in Breckenridge, CO on the way out and back.

We completed 2 MAD Live Events this month and 3 mini-MAD Live Events at the Kingdom Bound Christian Musical Festival in Darien Lake, NY. We praise God for 5 new followers of Jesus Christ and the equipping of more believers to share Christ every day as a lifestyle.

Some MAD Grad testimonies to encourage you and praise God for:

“I just have to tell you about the Lord's working in a young guy on our hockey team. As a reminder... I've been giving a Gospel of John booklet to each new teammate, with a note inside that I will pray for him on a particular day of the week, every week of the session. I include a request for specific prayer, along with my phone number and email address. In the middle of May, Randy, a 31 year old, new to the team, sent me an email informing me that he has cancer, been through "countless surgeries," and chemo sessions. He then said that he has a scan every 3 months to check on tumors they did not remove in the latest surgery. He asked if I would pray regarding the next scan, then scheduled for June 23rd. I assured him that it was my privilege to do so, and would periodically remind him at games that I was praying.

Last Thursday, the day of the scan, I wrote him and said that I had been thinking about him and praying often through the day. Friday he wrote with the news. The tumors had shrunk, without treatment or medication. The doctors were "literally speechless," and had NO explanation! I informed him that, "I love it when doctors have no explanation." He credited God and His power.

At our game, Sunday evening, I asked if he could hang around a few minutes so I could pray WITH him. He gladly agreed. We went to a private room where, after prayer I shared the Gospel of the grace of God with him. He received the forgiveness that is only available through the Lord Jesus Christ!! God is SO good! Thanks for reading this, and for your work. What a blessing we've received.”

“My 10 year old son is such a witness for Christ! He is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! He wants me to "pull up a little" so he, from the back seat, can ask the drive thru window servers if they know Jesus as their Lord. I selected Pocket Testament Gospels of John that he and I can share at the walking trail beside our house. Many people walk their dogs and the Gospels of John will give us the tool to share the Gospel even more! Also, we enjoy riding bicycles around our town. The bicycle "Life is Good" Pocket Testament cover will be wonderful to have as we share Christ on our journeys. Thank you so much for equipping us to Go for Souls and live with eternal purpose!”

AUGUST - OCTOBER SCHEDULES

Thank you for your continued prayers regarding our schedule. God is at work answering them!

• Aug 6 - Walk thru the Bible Old Testament seminar - Cape Community Church, Cape May Courthouse, NJ

• Aug 6 - Preach at Saturday evening worship service - The Lighthouse Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Cape May Courthouse, NJ

• Aug 7 - Preach at both Sunday morning worship services - The Lighthouse Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Cape May Courthouse, NJ

• Aug 20 - MAD Live Event - Crestview Baptist Church, Canton, NC

• Aug 24 - Speak at the Shenandoah Christian Alliance’s Men’s Breakfast, Winchester, VA

• Aug 28 - Preach 3 times at Sunday morning worship services - Valley Forge Baptist Temple, Valley Forge, PA

• Sept 11 - MAD Live Event - Chester Gap Baptist Church, Chester Gap, VA

• Sept 18 - MAD Live Event - Richfield Springs Bible Church, Richfield Springs, NY

• Sept 24 - MAD Live Event - Living Word Community Church, Dumont, NJ

• Sept 29 - Speak at the 35th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser for CareNet – Lehigh Valley, PA

• Oct 1 - MAD Live Event - Agape New Testament Fellowship, Schnecksville, PA

• Oct 8 - MAD Live Event - People’s Church of Potterbrook, Westfield, PA

• Oct 9 - Preach at morning worship service, People’s Church of Potterbrook, Westfield, PA

• Oct 22 - Preach at Saturday evening service - The Harvest, Lexington, SC

• Oct 23 - Preach at both morning worship services - The Harvest, Lexington, SC

• Oct 23 - MAD Live Event - The Harvest, Lexington, SC

• Oct 29 – Speak at Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conference, Rochester, NY

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For a successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in my right knee. Surgery is scheduled for the morning of August 2nd. Also, please pray for a very speedy recovery. Thanks!

• We are really in need of your prayers and help filling the schedule for the fall and beyond. I continue to be amazed at how hard it is to get commitments, and even just return calls from pastors I have contacted.

• There is a HUGE training opportunity coming up with the Pocket Testament League in late September. It could provide us the largest and widest exposure of our teaching that we have seen thus far. Please keep this Facebook Live event in your prayers. More details later.

• I would like to start a Bible study in our neighborhood. Please pray that we will find receptive hearts willing to come and learn.

Love in Christ,

Cathy and Don