staff responses

These are the responses from the staff about how pray4cbc impacted them . . .

RAY : The first 60 of the 100 days were great! I really sensed God moving and bringing some healing to various things in my life. “F.L.O.W.” was going well on Wednesday mornings and things were moving along pretty good. I could sense God with me and moving in my life. Then around Thanksgiving as I prayed one Saturday morning at the Fuego meeting, I heard the Lord say that a new chapter was going to unfold for me. God didn’t reveal if it was ministry related or life related, but either way I was kind of excited. But then as the days progressed, things got a lot harder for me. I didn’t sense the Lord as much and physically, emotionally and spiritually I was in this cloudy funk.

Then on Jan 5th, I got a little insight and I sensed God really wanted me to go through this experience to trust in Him more. It really deepened my faith and walk with Him. I feel more at peace and my thoughts and actions have taken a positive turn. I’m still trying to sort out all that God is doing, but I know that He will guide me through the next days, weeks and months. I kind of feel like a locomotive train engine taking off from the train station, slow at first but as it builds momentum, its full steam ahead! These 100 days of prayer were really powerful for me. It wasn’t quite what I expected for the entire 100 days, but God knows how to get my attention, touch me and change me.

JANE:
•Grateful for prayer covering during the Christmas preparations. It gets pretty intense in the final weeks.
•Humbled by the graciousness of so many talented ministers (of all ages) willing to share their gifts and time to work and worship together and the willingness of new people stepping out in faith to serve the Lord.
•Glad that our corporate offerings to the Lord has blessed others and played a role in the salvation of some who crossed the line of faith.
•Personally, grateful for the support of growing friendships and the experience to be vulnerable to them. Nice to be able to receive and just "be" rather than always taking on the role as staff/leader.

JOANN: I’ve had a couple opportunities to pray for people. Shortly after we prayed for someone’s husband to be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. she received word that he was granted passage and would be able to come before Christmas AND her 2 children also. Her call to me was unbelievable. She’d been waiting so long and had so many setbacks; honestly, I guess I didn’t think it would happen. It really filled me with joy and I was so grateful to God.

Another time I grabbed a few people and we gathered around a family dealing with cancer and several of us prayed, right outside the sanctuary door on the low cement wall. It was really great! And I think it might be one way we can model this kind of praying “wherever, whenever for whoever!” to our church body.

I was also asked to contact a woman who was stressed and lonely after the loss of her husband. So I contacted her and lo and behold, she came to church! And she’s been coming every single week since. She quickly made friends and now I see her talking to many people. It’s just been cool to see how our church has embraced her and I do believe God has to be doing something. These were three examples of how God blessed me through prayer times and let me know that He is indeed working at CBC in mighty, mighty ways!

RICK: I consider myself most fortunate, to have been surrounded by so many friends and supporters. I know now more than ever that everything will be okay. I know that I do not walk alone. Everything is on for my surgery tomorrow. Thank you all for your part in this endeavor. I could not have made it this far without you. You all have played an integral part in my preparing for tomorrow’s surgery and my ongoing recovery process. Thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement, care, concern, affirmation, blessings, cards, gifts, friendship and support.

Note: Rick’s back surgery on Tues. Jan. 13 went smoothly - everything went according to plan, there were no surprises. He was scheduled to be released from the hospital on Friday. At noon before surgery Jeanie says: “I was with Rick in pre-op and said, ‘do you feel the prayers?’ It was like a warm blanket, a surge of peace came over me. I felt like crying. I knew you all were there with us. Thank you so much.”

On Wed., the day after surgery, Jeanie said: “I was able to witness Rick walk. What an amazing sight! He didn't feel any pain. Prayer power!! His back is straight, however he still leans to the left. His body is so used to that position. His physical therapist was able to help Rick use his right hip more to straighten out. Rick walked twice around the floor. The PT said most can only go down one corridor the first day. Praise God. Please keep on praying – it makes a huge difference.”

GARY: God confirmed that He has given me a certain gift - two people confirmed this. God’s leading for our church to grow in compassion ministries.

DONNA: Greater sense of God’s power in preaching and counseling; more comfortable with leadership; more confidence in being heard and seen; some wonderful times of refreshment and reassurance in God’s presence.

Thank you for praying for us!