From House Springs, Missouri, Larry Graff is asking for you to pray for his on going health problems and to pray to God for breath and clearer lungs for him. Sent by Larry Graff, request written by Laura Lee

 

Good News update: The 18 year old son of Robert Joseph Goldman has been located and is now back in touch with his family. Johnathon was missing after hurricane Katrina. Robert thanks all who prayed for them.

 

EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENSTANCE, BUT PRAISE THE ETERNAL GOD OF HEAVEN WHO WAS IN CARE OF THIS YOUNG MAN DURING ALL THIS TIME! WHAT A WONDERFUL MIRACLE WAS WORKED OUT ON THIS FAMILY'S BEHALF THROUGH THE FAITHFUL PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS! SHARING IN YOUR JOY, GLADYS ACOSTA

 

Dear brethren, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ from Kenya! Praise God, we are fine despite a recent political unrest and chaos hit our country after general election rigged result announced last Sunday. More than three hundred lives claimed by this political emotion and 100,000 displaced; the most affected are women and children. The problem was experienced country wide. Million worth property destroyed and people’s lives in fear and starvation is affecting many people as result of lack means of transportation of various commodities to market. Means of communication is also a problem, I was not able to communicate with my co-pastors in various localities but I assume they are safe. As believers no doubt this is the work of devil and sign of the end of ages. The news reported more than 30 people burned into ashes in church on western Kenya. Despite reconciliation process called by international communities many conflicts still reported and see all over the country as two rival political groups fight and many innocent people died. We are not sure about the future here. I kindly appeal for intersession prayer, for our country, families and brethren. Any material help for starving families are welcome. The Banking institutions are working with tight security, you may wish to help us via western union money transfer to Julius N. Lenkume –Kenya. Thanks very much for those of you who have written to know about us, it may take you some time to hear from us due to insecurity but I hope to update you some times as the lord provides the opportunity. Be blessed! Yours pastor Julius Lenkume (COG Maasai mission)

 

Dear Brethren, Kenya streets have quieted slightly today as many of our brethren who have been locked up in their houses for over a week now due to the deadly violence, begin to venture out (And not a minute too soon because their food supply was almost empty). Some brethren had been forced out of their homes over a week ago due to the turmoil and ran for their lives across the City, taking refuge in other brethrens homes and now are finding out that they have no houses to go back to. The reports are now coming in from our brethren over there in Kenya. There are a few small church families who were living in the Mathara slums. Mary and her husband (Whose name I cannot spell or pronounce) have been COG members for a long time. They both HAD jobs and now their jobs are gone, and even their houses are gone. They have 2 children Oliver 3 yrs old and a 9-Month-old baby. They own some land in a remote part of Kenya and hope to try and travel there to flee the turmoil and also to avoid starvation, but are in need of some help to get there. Another COG member who lived in Kibara shantytown is Judy. The little she had is completely gone also, so she is also in a dilemma. There also is a young man from Uganda named Mike who traveled to Nairobi in the recent past to try and find his parents. He found out that they were both deceased. He was able to find a job and was living in that same shantytown. He became friends with some of our COG members there a while back, and has been receptive to God‘s teachings. Now he is not only an orphan, but like the rest, has lost his job and also has no place left to go back to. Mike is not looking to leave the City of Nairobi (he has no place to go to) and feels that he can find some way of still earning his daily bread there in the City. But we need to try and help him with some basic items like a small mattress so he won‘t have to sleep on the bare ground at night. And maybe a little funds to hold him over till he can find some way of earning his daily bread. Please understand that these brethren of ours are in dire need of our help at this time. Also please understand that they are NOT lazy, they are NOT sluggards. The unemployment rate in Kenya is around 90%. Very few Kenyans have jobs, but many of our brethren have been blessed with ways of making their daily bread. But this is situation that is totally beyond their control. The political unrest there has brought the Country into total kayos. Now I have seen first hand the normal life style that our brethren in both Kenya and Tanzania are living in, and have been trying to make other brethren here in U.S.A. aware of their condition. But so far, very few seem to have any care or concern for them. Now this is nothing new to the brethren there. We found the brethren in all of E. Africa to be lacking some of the most basic necessities, like owning there own personal copy of the Bible, or having mosquito netting to help prevent them from contracting three different life threatening diseases that are spread by the mosquitoes there. We even still have some brethren in Tanzania who are still sleeping on the dirt floor in their mud huts because they have no mattress. Most of these brethren have been COG members for many years. Some go as far back as Radio church of God. But they have been neglected, not necessarily because of the brethren in God‘s church. I know that many many faithful brethren have given much funds to the church government over the years (Actually I should say quote unquote church  government) because if they were truly God’s government here on earth, then why did we find around half of all these brethren lacking these basic needs? Our God is a loving God. And He makes it quite clear who His true disciples are: Jn:13:35: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Anyway, I am not here to be bashing on the past. I am here to try and make the fate of our brethren who live in that part of this troubled earth known. If you have access to our Website, please click on Kenya  where you can read some short stories about our brethren there. Also see some of them at their homes, in the pictures we have taken. (Before the current turmoil) http://voiceinthewildernesschurchofgod.org/index.html We originally started our Website to try and bring some exposure to the conditions that many of our brethren abroad are living in. PLEASE DO NOT BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE DEVISED A NAME TO OPERRATE UNDER. We could not legally operate without registering some kind of name. And our God commands us to abide by man’s laws as long as they don‘t break His laws. The only name that really counts though, is Church of God  And Its correct definition is: The House Of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth.  1Tm:3:15 Membership is TOTALLY dependent upon: If the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his  Rom 8:9. Yes, God’s Church is a household, a family. But if we are sons in that family, then we need to be doing something with that Spirit of His to qualify as sons: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Rom. 8:14. Let me get back to our subject now. Please Help our brethren in East Africa. We are living in troublesome times brethren. Thank God that we are nearing Christ’s return. Many people around this world are suffering. Many, especially our brethren need some of our help now. Remember our Creator says: Gal:6:10: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Some of these people are of our very Household. Do not wait until these awful events arrive in your physical houses before you take any action. Anyway, I am only trying to pass this information on so that if you know of any COG groups in you area, who could possible take up a small collection (And only if they are in the position to help). It would be good. I do not think that they will need tons of money, because they live very modest (usually surviving with a small mattress to lie on to sleep. And what ever they grow in their gardens. (Cabbage, corn, bananas, etc.) is what they eat. Those living in the City have no gardens, but they had small jobs to earn their daily bread. They also normally live with the very basics like mattress, 2 or 3 pieces of furniture, and they eat much imported rice because it is what they can normally afford. But they need some help now because their Country is in total turmoil, and they have no money. Now please don't misunderstand my request. I know that many true COG members here in USA are also pressed for funds. Many are living on SS many are struggling to survive themselves with the high cost of living. I am not trying to make them feel guilty in any way. Besides the most valuable gift any of us can give them are our prayers. But they need to be made aware of the brethren's conditions so they know to pray for them. But for those who can help and want to help, this is their opportunity. Below is an E-mail that I received from one of our church brothers in Kisumu (3rd largest City in Kenya) His name is Jacob. He was a Catholic until a year ago when he began to learn the Truth. He dropped his former religion like a hot potato and began studying his Bible. He runs a small business trucking fish from the lake to the City with a 5-ton truck that he owns. As he spends much time at the lake purchasing the fish, he preaches the Gospel to literally hundreds of people. Every message that we give, we send him and he reads them to those people. Here is his E-mail I received today: Hello, How are you doing, things here are so bad, very many people have been killed, homes burnt down, business premises looted and burnt down, even churches burnt down. thousands of people do not have shelters, tension still very high, the country needs the help of God than ever before, unless Almighty God talks to the rulers, the suffering will continue. The international world should do something and do it very urgently to save our country. We are really suffering, we have exhausted all that we had, it is only today that I have managed to get a computer to communicate. However, we have faith God will do some miracles. Kisumu town is not what you saw when you came here, it is a ghost town. I lost two people as a result of this. Has Josh come back? May people of good will pray for our country! Jacob.  END OF QUOTE. Brethren, If there was ever a time for us, the members of the Church Of God to display some of God‘s love towards our brethren, it is now. If you want to help, we have a good network already set up for about a year now. Any and all funds donated go directly to our brethren there. No one here is on any church payroll. We have true overseers who have been risking their physical lives to care for our brethren there. We also understand quite well the story about Ananias, and his wife Sapphira Acts 5:1. If you want to help, please send your help to: Kenya Hands Of Hope, 120 Stage Rd., Tuckerton, NJ 08087. If you have any questions, I can be reached on my cell phone 609-713-5631 Thank You Bill Goff

 

Please pray for Larry Graff's complete healing. He was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood, MO a couple of days ago. He is having a lot of trouble breathing. He struggles with emphysema/asthma. Information obtained from Larry via telephone, written by Laura Lee.

 

IN MY PRAYERS TODAY IN MESSIAH'S NAME, GLADYS.

 

Dear Christian friends, Reproduced below is a note sent to the members of my congregation. I solicit your prayers for them and for me, that we may be able to conduct worship services that more faithfully serve the Lord Christ. As some of you know, an "interactive" worship service can be a very good thing. And even as some of you fear or have experienced yourselves, an "interactive" worship service can be a disgraceful thing. To the glory of God I would like to banish disgracefulness from the worship services of my congregation. Our Pastor's own mother, a woman of around 80 years of age, is the worst offender. Another is one of the older men, a boisterous and out-going personality. They love to be heard, even when they have nothing worthwhile to say, and seem resistantly relatively clueless as to the aspirations and feelings of the congregation. But I believe it behooves all of us to be more circumspect! I solicit and appreciate your prayers that we will find more grace to "revere my sanctuary" as the holiness of God commands. Even if you do not record your congregational worship service for all the world to hear, and even if you do not hold "interactive" worship services, nevertheless, more or less everything I say below still applies. Your brother in Christ, Jeffrey ................................................ Please take to heart what I say here! I have been very upset because we -- by allowing disorderliness in our worship services -- have been prosecuting our ministry to the entire world in a disgraceful fashion! TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: a note from the assistant to the Webmaster of the Believers-in-Christ Church of God If we are, as at least some of us believe, a congregation of Christians, called to be holy (Ephesians 1:4 and many other passages) and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, then, from the Word of God, many a charge of responsibility has been laid upon us. In carrying out those responsibilities we are being judged by a Father "who judges each man’s work impartially" (1 Peter 1:17) and by a Lord who judges and rewards or punishes each congregation as well (Revelation 2 and 3). Among the many charges given by Christ’s apostles to those who are called to uphold and defend our most holy faith is this one given by Christ's apostle, Paul – and given by Timothy, also, a pastor devoted to the teachings of Christ’s apostles: "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you" (Philippians 2:16). When Paul has his resurrection body, when Paul has eternal life and no limit to his energy or time, I daresay, Paul will be interested in hearing about everything that was ever done in the name of Christ. He will, I daresay, be concerned then about the works of our congregation, even as our Father and our Master are concerned now. In the same letter these faithful men also give us this charge for and of servants of Christ Jesus: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe AS YOU HOLD OUT THE WORD OF LIFE–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing" (Philippians 2:14-16). These faithful servants of Christ suffered much to bring us the precious Word of God; may we not, by failing to cooperate with them, our true leaders, make their suffering and labor for us "for nothing"! They were serving us, too; that is why we have the New Testament. As Peter says: "I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things" (2 Peter 1:15). I write because it seems that some, if not many, in our congregation, including, it seems, even our elders, seem to be under the mistaken impression that we are not even attempting to hold out the word of life to the world. We are making an effort to "hold out the word of life" as God commands, but many of you, ignorantly, have been detracting from that effort. Today there are hundreds of millions of people, in every nation of the world, with access to the Internet. Our congregation has a Web site on the Internet – "open" as it were, to hundreds of millions of people at all times. Our Web site is a place where, at least potentially, those searching for the living Word of God may come in and find His words of life – if they are there, at least! Some of the people out there have found our Web site – there were over 93,000 hits on it between March 2004 and December 2006. As recently as several days ago we received a prayer request from South Africa. Something valuable on that Web site can serve a lot of people ... it is even a means for us to serve people who live in places where "the word of life" is difficult or even dangerous to come by. If so be the word of God in grace and power were there, our God through His mighty power could easily enough direct many people to it. On our congregational Web sitethe primary and unique "product of value" produced by and of our congregation that we are offering to the entire online world – to hundreds of millions of people – is a section of our Web site called "Online Sermons". We record every worship service in order to serve people who are not present with us – whether members of our congregation, or visitors to it, and "Online Sermons" is a place where they, or complete strangers to us, might at least potentially go to hear the word of life. These recordings which we are producing and make available to the entire world are the reason why, if, in our worship service you are lifting your voice, ostensibly to share with us "words of life" – you are requested to speak into the microphone. We make this request, not merely that we might hear you, but that ALL might hear you. Ideally, that ALL might hear you as YOU "hold out the word of life"! If you do not have the word of life to hold out, then kindly keep your peace!! Anything and everything "stupid" spoken in our worship service DETRACTS from our efforts to HOLD OUT THE WORD OF LIFE! To the degree that what you have to say in our worship service has nothing of God’s grace and is notto His glory, then it is spoiling the primary work of this congregation in reaching the world! Asking to speak in our worship service when in fact you have nothing worthwhile to say – or speaking out of turn with something that is not worthwhile – is tantamount to SPOILING our service to God. It is disrespectful to us and to Him. I, the assistant to the Webmaster, am but a man, a vapor. Though I happen to be the tallest man in the congregation, and one of the heaviest and perhaps the hottest-tempered man in the entire church of God. It is not a good idea to try my patience. Even more, it is not a good idea to try God’s patience! As assistant to the Webmaster, one of my chief concerns is the content of our Web site. What YOU say to the assembly in our worship service becomes the content of the most valuable "product" we offer on our Web site! Do not infuriate me by speaking inanely and detracting from its value!! And now, I trust, that you have been warned, "DO NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST!!" If the word of the living God is to be heardfrom our Web site, it must first be heard in our worship service! So, let the word of the living God be heard in our worship service! And let the prattle of foolish people NOT be heard in our worship service! Just ask yourself: if you are risking your freedom or even your life, searching for an opportunity to hear the word of the living God, what inane comments, what stale jokes, what wisecracks or what irrelevant comments or complaints of fools are you going to be happy to hear?? If you raise your voice to speak in our worship service, then let it be the word of life that you speak! As Paul says, "Let everything be done to the glory of God!" May reverence for the living Word of God be the hallmark of our worship services! Sent by Jeffrey Caldwell

 

A letter from Kenya, You will no doubt have been reading/hearing/seeing about Kenya, and the aftermath of the recently held elections. What you have read and seen is likely true. However, news that is reported tends to be of the catchy, sensational, and often hopeless variety. That is what keeps us glued to the news. Let me share with you some of the things you will not necessarily see on CNN or CBC. People worshipped with each at the Uhuru Park, where the ODM supporters have been trying to hold a mass rally for the past week, but have not been able to do so, due to the government ban on such a rally. The church service gave us hope for the future of Kenya. Here are a few of the highlights from the service: The priest talked very openly about tribalism, and how we should not be controlled by tribalism. One of the leaders made a public confession of how the church needs to take responsibility for what has happened by being remiss in teaching about love, and not doing enough to bring about peace, justice and reconciliation between peoples. Instead of shaking hands and wishing each other peace, congregants were encouraged to hug those around you, while expressing the following words, "As long as I live, I promise to love you." It was encouraging to note there was no attempt to somehow spiritualize the madness of the past week, in some unrealistic way. What was said was honest, raw and current. Mention was made that the church has been fractured along tribal lines, and public commitment to work for unity was expressed. Mention was made that although there are 42 tribes in Kenya, at present it would appear that 40 of them could do no more than vote, while two are struggling for power. The congregation was exhorted that we all have a stake in the future, and it belongs to all of us. We are all responsible. None of us should shirk our responsibility Men were killed by first slashing their private parts and given to their wives to eat, refusing to eat you are killed right there in front of your children, they the arsonist strip you naked burn you and burn everybody in your house, the total number of people killed in Naivasha 1000, Nakuru 140.Yesterday a woman was able to carry only her husband’s head back home for burial. We urge you over there church of God members to remember us in prayer and if possible send relief over here to help us, there is no food medical etc. This morning, staff held their usual Monday morning devotion. However, today's devotion was not normal. A staff person led in a devotion, and another led us in a prayer to focus on healing, reconciliation and forgiveness. A number of staff people were asked to pray, as representatives of their particular tribe. This was both a painful, and a vulnerable experience, but it had a powerful effect on everyone present. One staff member prayed that we are taught to believe that the Kikuyu are thieves. "We are taught this from a young age. But I know that Ann (not her real name) is not a thief. I know that pastor Bill (not his real name) is not a thief. We need to have our eyes opened to the destructive forces of racism." And further; "Until a week ago I was proud to be an African. I was proud to be a member of my tribe. I was proud to be a Kenyan. Now I am ashamed, embarrassed and deeply saddened. Forgive us for our sins of commission and omission". We were reminded that just before Christmas break we sat together on the grounds outside our office and celebrated our oneness. We laughed together. We celebrated our unity, but also our uniqueness as representing different tribes. One of the staff mentioned that the past week he had been feeling very low, and saddened. "Kenya was one of the gems of Africa till this past week. How does the world see us now? We led the way to bring about peace in neighboring countries. How has our credibility suffered now?" he expressed. We were reminded of the fact that the 'grass gets trampled when elephants fight.' The elephants are Kibaki and Raila Odinga and their respective parties. The grass are the poor, the dispossessed, and in particular the Kikuyu. Not because of any evil done by the particular individuals being targeted, but because of whom they are by birth, which is often discovered by their family names, and by their accent. The enmity between races, and in particular the feelings toward the Kikuyu has a long and deep seated history in this country, which has mostly been beneath the surface all these years. Now it has surfaced in an ugly way. How do we move forward? This time of unrest has given 'license' to commit acts that would normally not be condoned. The people doing the marching, wielding the machetes, burning and looting in the name of a 'struggle for democracy' are primarily young unemployed men, mainly from poor high density areas in Nairobi and cities around the country. I don't see this as a mass movement supported by the populace. I do see this as a very unfortunate way for the political elite to use disgruntled youth to bring pressure to bear on a government, who they say have 'stolen' the election. In the meantime it has brought pain and grief to many families, and it is affecting a nation and a region in a very profound way. There are those who are quick to make comparisons with what happened in Rwanda. One can excuse those who lived through the trauma of those days, as they may be re-visited by that trauma. But for the rest of us, I feel that it is unfair to draw that comparison. When looking at the Kenyan media, one reads mostly words of admonishment, urging the population to work for peace, and speaking words of comfort, solace and restraint. One does not hear public expressions of hatred on radio, TV or in the papers. Here are some of the voices for peace in Kenya: Citizens for peace taking out full page ads in the paper, with a public letter to Kibaki and to Raila Odinga, urging them to speak to each other, to lead by example in the way towards peace (by agreeing to a recount or another election or a coalition government). Church leaders meeting with both parties, calling on them to address the failure of the election process in such a way that people will feel listened to in the election process. The papers are primarily filled with editorials and lead articles calling for all Kenyans to solve their differences peacefully, and for the leaders to take the lead. Churches and businesses are mobilizing to respond to the needs of the displaced by organizing food, water, shelter and clothing for those who have sought shelter in police stations, schools and churches. The displaced are primarily people who have very little, and who have fled their homes for fear of losing their lives. High level individuals have been/are in the country in an effort to bring about mediation/reconciliation between the two main contenders in the recently completed presidential election (including Bishop Desmond Tutu, Kabah, the former president of Sierra Leone, the chairman of the EU, and many other high ranking representatives of various governments from other African states as well and as from N. America and Europe. The ODM called for people to make their way to Uhuru (Peace) Park in downtown Nairobi. The last few times this was done, the marches were put down by force, and resulted in destruction, dislocation of people, and unsettled lives in the path of the protestors. At the time of writing, this remains on hold. We pray for calm. I don't know where all this will end up. I am not so naive as to think that there are not significant issues that need to be dealt with in Kenya. This is not about waiting a bit for the problem to disappear. It is clear that there are serious issues surrounding the election that need to be addressed. There are issues of ethnic identity that beg to be addressed. In the midst of all of this, I thought it might be somehow helpful to share a bit of what the public media does not pick up, in Kenya. Pray with us for Kenya. Pray for the multitudes in this land who are working to extend God's kingdom of love and peace. Our leaders are blind that they can not see beyond their nose, what they want is money. Hope God speed up His kingdom. Yours, Isaya Owak

 

Rosie; May I add something to this message? Prayer is wonderful, and I have seen prayers answered right here on the prayer line. But for anyone that can help, I think we are able to answer this desperate prayer more by direct action. Anyone that can afford monetary help, no matter how small, should send whatever one can to help those starving people in Kenya. Gene---Editor’s Note: This is not Rosy Halley’s Prayer Lines, but your note is good and I hope some will be able to help the Kenyan Brethren. Laura Lee

 

Prayers are requested for Aubrey, who fell from the 4th floor of a building. She broke several bones including her ribs and skull. She is breathing through a tube connected to a breathing machine. -submitted by Wily Elder