Good News from Rochester

Dear Praying Friends,

Several years ago Ray preached in Rochester, New York. During one of his messages, he offered the local pastors copies of An Anchor for the Soul. This week we heard from one of those pastors:

When you were here, you offered us significant quantities of your book An Anchor for the Soul on the basis that we report back to you how God used the books we gave away.

 Let me give you three brief notes.

1. We have in our Church an ex-Con who has a wonderful jail/prison ministry, and one vitally involved in helping parolees back into society. He has distributed several hundreds of these to inmates in 7 jails and prisons – not the least of which is Attica State Prison where David Berkowitz – the Son of Sam murder is, and who (as you may or may not know) is a very committed believer. Only eternity will tell how many will come into the Kingdom, or be strengthened and encouraged by your having made these volumes available. But we interact regularly with those men and women he has used this book in introducing them to the Gospel.

2. In the last 2 years, my Father-in-law purchased 3 houses which have been converted into multiple housing for ex-cons coming back into society. This Christmas, my wife and I put together a gift bag for each of the tenants (this year about 30) with a copy of your book, another Gospel tract, a small gift card, some candy etc., and passed them out to each one. The very first call we got back was from a man in his 30’s, weeping. He said that he had never even received a single “gift” from anyone in his entire life. He was so grateful to have the book placed in his hands, he was beyond words.

3. This past weekend, we had the privilege to preach a community Sunrise service at a local cemetery. We made your book available to any who would ask, and 50 of those books went into the hands of unbelievers this week. Oh may the Lord be pleased to add the Spirit’s power to those pages in the hands of those folks.

Anyway – I thought you should know they are being used in dark and needy places. And we wait to hear how God blesses in the process.

That’s the sort of email we love to receive because it shows how God uses that little “gospel book” in some unlikely ways. Pray that those who received the book would read it, understand it, and come to saving faith in Jesus  Christ. Would you also pray with us that God will open more doors to share Christ through An Anchor for the Soul?

On the local front, we are actively looking to fill two part-time positions here in Dallas. With Mark and Vanessa moving to California and Josh and Leah heading to Asia, we need some help in several key ministry areas. Please pray that God leads us to the right people.

We’re grateful every day for your friendship, your love, your support, and your prayers. Let us know how you are doing. We love hearing from you.

God bless you!

Ray and Marlene