"God…reconciled us to Himself through Christ, andgave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18
Thank you for your recent prayers for Patti and myself regarding our recent and respective peace-making involvements: Patti, with her 2 relational wisdom seminars in the Dayton, Ohio area and myself with a church conflict intervention opportunity.
Here is the update!
Applying relational wisdom at Optimus Prosthetics
We asked you to pray specifically for Patti's physical stamina; for freedom in her spirit as she taught and for lasting fruit to be birthed by God’s Spirit through these seminars. By God’s grace, He gave Patti relief from her back pain and sciatic nerve issues for these seminars. Also, the response – especially from the secular workplace seminar of 32 employees – was extremely encouraging.
On my end, the conflict intervention (involving a church’s pastoral staff and elder board team) has gone amazingly well – for 2 prime reasons:
The power of humility. Especially on the part of the head elder and lead pastoral staff member. Their transparency; their honest and appropriate confession of wrongs; the genuine seeking of forgiveness; their willingness to listen well and empathetically identify with the pain they have caused – all of it! I wish I had it on tape! Priceless moments…and breakthroughs!
The power of prayer…including yours! In addition, I was told that some godly folks in their church have been fasting and praying for these sessions. We could tell it! You could sense it – by how the Spirit of God was so at work in each intervention. David Bryant, who himself has had a significant ministry in this particular church in past years, made this excellent and accurate connection between prayer and ministry: “Prayer is an activity upon which all others depend…(it) strikes the winning blow. All ministry efforts simply gather up the fruits of our praying”. Yes! Indeed!
Continue to pray with me for this church as they transition from the reactive side (conflict resolution) to more of a proactive focus on how to develop a cohesive and healthy (spiritually, relationally) staff and leader team. Thank you for your prayer partnership in this. God is at work.
One final prayer target update involves Patti and her back pain/sciatic nerve issues. She met with an orthopedic surgeon 10 days ago who informed her, based on her MRI, that she will require back surgery. This is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, November 1st. Recovery will be a minimum of 6 weeks. Would you pray for God’s protection over her during her surgery as well as for a good healing process over the weeks ahead. Thank you!
May God’s peace rest well in your hearts…
Lou & Patti
Our mailing address:
Anchor Point Ministry
1079 Jayrogers Ct Traverse City, MI 49696
231-929-1749
