Category: January 2016

by Kerney Thomas

Do you remember the famous line, “Do you believe in miracles?” uttered by hall-of-fame sportscaster Al Michaels when the USA Olympic Hockey team beat the USSR in the 1980 Winter Olympics? Well, it wasn’t actually a real “miracle,” it was just a major upset. But, there are real miracles that happen every day performed by God through His people.

Miracles are not supposed to happen. Miracles aren’t scientifically provable. Yet God regularly causes the impossible to happen. Man alone can’t perform a miracle because each real miracle is a miracle of God.

The question remains, do you believe in miracles? Many of us today don’t because they weren’t taught that God is still in the miracle business. Yet every day miracles do happen. Changing those thought patterns about the existence of miracles is as simple as renewing your mind. You have to change your way of thinking; that is what faith is all about.

You can change your way of thinking but that is done by reading the Word. Faith comes by hearing; hearing comes by the word of God. You have to read and hear with an open mind. God is able to do what he said he would do. Faith is simply taking God at His word. Sometimes we must discern if we believe in God, or, indeed if we believe God Himself. There is a difference!

To believe God takes a new perspective. I have to believe that he is going to do what he says he is going to do. When I get sick, I have to believe that, ‘by his strips ye were healed,’ and take it to be true. Faith should be like a sixth sense. I don’t have to think about smelling, I just smell. I don’t have to think about seeing, I just see.

It’s almost impossible to believe God, while at the same time grumbling and complaining about all that is wrong. Your faith and words should match. One of the most important things God has given us is our tongue. The power of life and death is in the tongue. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

I can tell what I believe by what I am saying. For me to say that I am sick is for me to say that I don’t believe God is my healer. How can I say that I’m broke when God has supplied all my needs? That is a bad testimony against my God. I have more than enough.

Abundance of life, abundance of health, abundance of thankfulness that is how I live life. Perhaps renewing our mind with the Word of God can help our faith to grow into that sixth sense. That is a great New Year’s Revelation!

by Stephanie Ryan Malin

Chris Washington is noticing a lot of double takes these days.

“My family and friends, they all ask me, ‘What are you doing?’ and I just smile,” Washington said. He has lost 34 pounds over the course of 12 weeks as part of the Elite Health and Wellness Program, a new multidisciplinary approach to weight loss from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The program is based on medical research and tailored around the lifestyle of each person who is participating.

Washington is an attorney by trade and while his colleagues in the courtroom may refer to his stunning weight loss as a wonder, Washington brushes that notion off, noting that his weight loss is a result of the sophisticated program that was developed by Pennington Biomedical’s world-renowned scientists who specialize in metabolism and weight loss.

“It’s really science-backed, and that’s why I decided to give it a try. What sets the Elite Health and Wellness Program apart for me is that it’s based on research,” said Washington. “Over the years I’ve seen all the work Pennington Biomedical has done to help people lose weight and get healthy, and I really wanted to improve my health—that was my number one goal.”

Washington weighed in on day one of his weight loss journey at 268 pounds, having already tried diet after diet.

“When I stepped on the scale, I was disappointed and felt sadness, because I’d tried everything—the paleo diet, the low-carb diet, and I even went vegan for a while, but nothing seemed to work,” said Washington, who was ready to make his health a priority.

“I have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and my doctor was always telling me I needed to lose weight to avoid some really dangerous additional health problems. Now that I’m 34 pounds down, she is going to be so surprised to see me the next time—and proud too. Now I’m excited to step on that scale at the doctor’s office,” Washington said.

The Elite Health and Wellness Program began seeing clients earlier this fall during a soft launch of the program, which provides a combination of one-on-one health counseling, personalized meal plans, and an array of state-of-the-art health tests.

“What we are doing is bringing our science to those in our community looking for a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off,” said Rob Leonhard, program manager for the Elite Health and Wellness Program. “What makes this program different is that we’re providing you with insight into your health that you wouldn’t find at your ordinary weight loss clinic, along with a program designed with your unique needs in mind.”

That insight comes through scientific tests such as an assessment of resting metabolic rate, biochemical profile monitoring, body composition analysis which shows precise measurements of body fat, lean tissue mass, and bone density, a VO2Max test to determine aerobic fitness levels, and more.

Washington said his health coaches at Pennington Biomedical have streamlined the details of his health assessments to ensure the weight loss process has remained straightforward and easy to follow.

“I’ve been lifting weights for about a decade, but they told me what kind of cardio would be best for me and I can see a difference. I’m no longer huffing and puffing when I jog and I’m not feeling all those pains I used to,” said Washington, who has also benefitted from the nutritional counseling.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is about making choices—how to choose what kinds of foods I’m going to eat every day, and that’s what is going to help me keep the weight off long-term. The people at Pennington Biomedical helped me learn how to make my choices work for my lifestyle, and I still eat those foods I love, but now I have a plan to limit them, and I have a team of people who are backing me up,” said Washington.

If you’re interested in learning more about investing in your health through the Elite Health and Wellness Program, visit www.penningtonelitehealth.com.

by Kristen Hogan

Each year millions of Americans resolve to get in better shape and become healthier versions of themselves. According to a recent YMCA survey of more than 1,000 adults, less than a quarter of respondents kept their resolution.

However, there is hope for the upcoming year. One-third of survey respondents plan to make a resolution and stick to it to reach their goals. More than half believe that encouragement from others will keep them on track. Finding a supportive community like the Y can be beneficial in keeping resolutions on track, because the Y organization is so much more than a gym.

Here are five tips to help make a healthy New Year’s resolution successful:

1. Start small. Set attainable resolutions. If you plan to lose 30 pounds, try losing five pounds first, and then work your way up to your 30-pound goal. 

2. Take it one step at a time. Making a New Year’s resolution does not require you to reassess every little detail of your life. Replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones takes time. Do not become overwhelmed. Work to change one behavior at a time, and then go from there.

3. Track your progress. Keep track of each small and large success. Each accomplishment helps keep you motivated. Keeping a journal or log of your progress can help you stay on track.

4. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t obsess over the occasional slip. Changing your lifestyle takes time. Stay focused on your goal and take one day at a time.

5. Reward Yourself. This does not mean you can eat an entire tub of ice cream if your resolution is to eat healthier. Instead, reward yourself by going to the movies, or buying a new workout shirt.

 For additional tips on healthy living, visit ymcabr.org/healthyfamilyhome

by Joel Willson

After growing up in relative obscurity in the family carpentry business, Jesus burst onto the scene in Galilee proclaiming, “Give up your agenda! The kingdom of God is at hand! God is here to rule and reign on the earth!” He further explains that he came to, “destroy the works of the devil.” After a visit to nearby Capernaum, where amazing healing miracles took place, Jesus visited the synagogue in his hometown, Nazareth. There he read from the scrolls of the Prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of The Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…freedom for the prisoners…sight to the blind…set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of God’s favor,” Luke 4:18-19.

Not only was Jesus a carpenter, but he had also been trained as a rabbi. Those who became followers or students of Rabbi Jesus endeavored to emulate him in every way. They came to understand that his words and his works were inseparable. Proclamation of the Gospel and demonstrations of power always went together. He said, “The kingdom is near,” and then he healed the sick, or he would expel demons and then say, “The kingdom of God has come.” As present day followers of Jesus, we continue following this same model.

For many years the yearning of my heart has been, “Lord, there must be more!” There must be more than the initial salvation experience, which is vital and amazing, then just waiting to go to heaven. What about that interim period between salvation and heaven? Where does the “life more abundant” fit in?

At New Life Church we are very intentional about our role in the rule and reign of God on earth. When questioned about his return to the earth in Acts 1, Jesus clearly directed his followers to focus instead on the kingdom now and the mandate to bring this gospel of the kingdom to every corner of the earth. With this “kingdom now” idea in mind, I want to highlight two ministries that New Life provides to Baton Rouge – Bethel Sozo and Healing Rooms. Currently, individuals from at least ten local churches participate on teams in these two ministries.

Sozo is the Greek word translated “salvation” in scripture. It means: “saved, healed, and delivered.” It is not only justification by faith, but it encompasses the ongoing process of making whole the body, soul, and spirit. This is a unique inner healing ministry aimed at getting to the root issues that hinder our connection to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Vickie Willson and Sherry Hartt are the directors of this ministry and Sozo sessions are by appointment only.

If your primary need is physical healing, Healing Rooms is the place you need to be. Terry Hale, director and Peter and Marcela Jowett, assistant directors open the Healing Rooms from 5-7 PM every second and fourth Sunday at New Life Church. No appointment is necessary and every session is completely confidential. Come in and soak in the presence of the Holy Spirit and then receive healing prayer from a trained team of ministers.

There is not enough space here for testimonies from these ministries, but we have some great ones. Father God loves us dearly and he wants his children to walk in wholeness and blessing. The answer to my yearning is, “Yes! There is more! This truly is the time of God’s favor!”

by Susan Brown

Children coping with multiple challenges, adults anchored by experience and faith, and a vision for mentoring, not with one-size-fits-all formulas but simply by bringing people together. Kids Hope USA provides a weekly academic workout and an environment that nurtures children into the realization that they are important, that they can be successful.

The real question is, “How could we not do this,” according to University United Methodist Church Associate Pastor Colleen Bookter whose church partners with University Terrace Elementary. “Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’” Matthew 25:44.

Five local churches have teamed up with schools through Kids Hope USA to match mentors with children in K-5^th grades. Through Kids Hope USA, one church typically partners with one school to send mentors for an hour each week at a time convenient for each mentor and teacher. The mentoring hour includes time for conversation, academics and fun.

“It was just a vision from God,” said Rev. Linda Joseph of Neely United Methodist Church, in partnership with Polk Elementary School. Seventeen years ago, she realized that although churches were on nearly every corner of her neighborhood, they were not working with schools to eliminate poverty. As a counselor at Baton Rouge High School, she had noticed the stark contrast in kids with a good foundation, and community kids who were struggling both scholastically and socially.

“I think it’s so rewarding when a child is in middle school getting ready to graduate and says thank you,” said Rev. Joseph. “You helped to mold, shape and nurture this young man and look at him now. He’s smiling. He feels so good about himself and, yes, he can do it. Yes, he can be a success.”
These kids are dealing with more than the average childhood issues. Talking helps them work through their concerns and reassures them that someone cares when a mother is taken to jail, when their house burns down, when they’re trying to adapt to a new country and language, or when they’re struggling with delayed learning.

“Reading levels improved dramatically; math improved in many situations,” said Kathleen Conrad, KHUSA co-director for Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church in partnership with Progress Elementary School. “Children become more open and friendly. I think it’s because of the one-on-one relationships – I’m here for you.”

The influence of one caring adult is more profound than many people realize, according to University United Methodist KHUSA Director Shirley Flake. A student from Rwanda emailed to tell her he was graduating from high school, 11 years after his family fled genocide in his home country. Upon arrival in Baton Rouge, University Terrace Elementary immediately placed him in the Kids Hope USA program. Although he had lost contact with his mentors, he had not forgotten their dedication to his academic success and their glad hearts.

“I want to thank you as well for being the director of this wonderful program that gave me a fighting chance,” Elie Nyembo wrote. “If you could somehow contact the people that I named and tell them thank you as well it [would] bring me much joy.”

The academic and social challenges facing these children seem daunting to some volunteers, according to Lisette West, KHUSA director for The Chapel in partnership with Wildwood Elementary. The school draws students from the LSU/Gardere area and includes a large international population. She recalls encouragement from worship leader Jonathan Madrid: “If you think you’re not equipped to go and visit with an at-risk child, then great! Because now you’re going to depend on the Lord for every day.”

“God has been good through the whole thing, and let us know we can’t do anything without him and everything with him,” said Kathleen Conrad. That’s where prayer partners come in. Every mentor has a confidential prayer partner from the church who prays for a specific child. A prayer group also meets weekly at Camphor UMC and prays for KHUSA concerns. “Academic struggles improve as a result of patience we have prayed for along with the ability to grasp what is being taught,” Conrad said. “‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’” Philippians 4:13.

“It’s hard to describe how you feel when you’re praying for that child,” said Betty Hodges, prayer coordinator for Zachary United Methodist Church. “You’re talking to the mentors and they’re telling you what they need prayer for, then to see the children themselves. It’s just remarkable.”

While Kids Hope USA respects separation of church and state, mentors sometimes face spiritual questions from children: “Does God still love my daddy even though he’s in prison?” “When I’m afraid, I can ask God to protect me, right?” One first grade teacher wrote, “You all are letting your light shine, and shine HE will, even when we can’t speak his wonderful name!”

The idea of a school-church partnership can be a tough sell at first, according to Zachary UMC KHUSA Director Bonnie Byland whose church partners with Zachary Elementary and Rollins Place Elementary. While the school system is 100 percent behind the program, teachers had their doubts and church members didn’t see the need.

“We get it. When you’re a classroom teacher and someone says, ‘Hey we have a volunteer who can come and help you, you just think – oh my goodness! What kind of can of worms is this going to open for me?” said Byland, a retired English teacher. “Now the school’s comfortable with us because many teachers have seen the program and it’s just going like crazy. They’re seeing confidence in kids; they’re seeing a decrease in acting out behavior because they’re getting a little bit of that self-esteem and positive reinforcement one-on-one.”

Another challenge was educating the congregation about community needs. “Zachary is the number one performing school district; it’s perceived as a relatively affluent community,” said Byland. But when the church realized that 40 percent of the children in their schools qualify for free lunches, they threw their support behind the program, not only with volunteers but also with supplies, household goods, Wal-Mart gift cards, and field trip scholarships.

Often, the mentoring experience leads a church to invest other resources. University UMC and Camphor Memorial UMC teach edible gardening. Most KHUSA churches help with special holiday events and collect supplies and uniforms. The Chapel donated its entire Easter offering to community projects, including major funding to set up a Hope Center at Wildwood. At the principal’s suggestion, the new building provides space for mentoring and a community-parenting center complete with computer stations.

“Our hope is to work alongside the principal’s vision which is to hold every child as a valuable person in this world to a higher standard than they’ve been held to before and to work with parents to offer resources for finding jobs, for finding the assistance they need,” said Wildwood KHUSA director Lisette West.

“They give of their time generously and the bond that is built with the students is strong and lasting,” said Wildwood principal Natalie Jadid. “As the school principal, I am grateful for the extra hands and big hearts that work with our students individually on social, academic, or life skills that will lead them to successful futures. WILDWOOD LOVES KIDS HOPE USA.”

by Beth Townsend

When God calls people into ministry there is often a misperception that things will be easy; that the path will be illuminated while doors swing wide open so that ministry can flourish. That is often not the case.

Those called to ministry usually have their faith shaped by roadblocks, trials, and for pastor Errol Faust, the unlikely blessing of a closed door. In fact, at the time, it seemed the door was slammed shut for no good reason.

Faust did not give up when that door closed, knowing that his calling was true, that his God was real, and he could trust in circumstances to lead his ministry where God wanted him to go. “I was pastoring a church, and there was a lady who came in who had a 22-year cocaine addiction,” he recounts. “I knew enough about recovery that she needed to get some help. Sitting there and praying with her was not enough. We found her a place to recover, where she went away for 28 days.”

Upon her return, they began to walk through the Celebrate Recovery program together. They met together every Tuesday. Over time, the pastor realized that the woman had friends who also needed recovery. Feeling that he could help, Faust suggested that she invite her friends to start a group on Tuesdays. Once that group began to grow, the program was moved to Friday nights. Then things began to take off.

Faust was an associate pastor of a church, but found that some in church leadership were increasingly uncomfortable with this shift in ministry. Finally, those in charge called Faust into a meeting to tell him they determined that the church did not want to host or grow a recovery ministry. The pastor was stunned at the decision. He was told, “We like your preaching, but we look around and there are crackheads in the church. We don’t want them and we don’t want you.”

Left with no choice except to accept their decision, Faust knew he could not quit what God started. People who needed help were seeking help and he could not walk away. “I went back the next Sunday and preached. It was my last Sunday,” he recalled.

With no church, no place to meet and not wanting to lose momentum, Faust remembered the next step. “I went to a friend and asked him if he had any property. ‘I need some help, pretty quickly.’” That is when God’s hand appeared mightily. The man responded to Faust’s question saying, “I just bought a property that will work! I’ll build you a building and put $500 in the bank. Then I will rent it to you.” It was a Godsend, a friend eager to help.

Errol recalled how the story unfolded. “We built the 2,400 square-foot building.” Faust admitted that he was concerned that they would never fill the space. Then Hurricane Katrina hit. Suddenly the building became a warehouse for supplies. Word got out; people from all around filled the building with supplies that were needed for hurricane victims. People came and went; others delivered supplies. Suddenly this building became a church.

“We got busy. We opened the doors to everyone. We had water and clothes. We were not preaching, we didn’t want people to have to listen to a sermon; we were just giving stuff out. We even had a big pot of red beans,” he laughed. “Then people started asking where we were from.”

The phones started ringing at this little place called Fountain of Life in the little town of Albany. Starting officially with a Friday night service, Errol was still concerned no one would come. “Then it got to where they were lining up, looking through the doors. You could not fit in another person, often there were three deep standing around the doors, kitchen and waiting room. I was preaching and we had a person doing music.”

Soon, Errol was approached by Mark Doubois, a young man who liked what they were doing. Doubois shared the same passion for a recovery ministry, and wanted to help. Faust remembered, “He had a job making good money. But he told me, ‘The Lord sent me to you to be a Barnabus.’ I said, ‘have you lost your mind?’” Together the men started fighting an uphill battle with little money, but they agreed this was of the Lord. Soon the ministry had the team in place to start a residential treatment home for men fighting addictions.

“At first you come in and stay 30-days, we look at it as discipleship. The addiction is not what we are immediately focused on. My philosophy is that we are all in recovery from the fall, it’s called sin. Sometimes it comes out in addiction or gluttony,” Faust says. “We have Bible studies twice a day, everyday. We are all in recovery, no matter the sin, so don’t put down this sin or that sin. But the person that over-eats is not endangering other people. Addiction needs to be jumped on fast because they can get out on the highway and can kill people. You have to get it under control, we need a place for them to go and stay.”

Facing expenses was and remains an area of faith. Apart from God, the ministry could not provide what people needed. “It costs $14,000 a month, whether we have one person or ten,” Faust shares. “ We ask everyone who comes in to pay $600 a month. We will feed you and give you a safe place to live, and then we will help you. We don’t turn anybody away because of money, but we do ask them to commit to six months. We can teach you John 3:16 fast. But we want to disciple you so you have a foothold in your relationship with Christ.”

Some people in the area label The Fountain of Life as the “drug church.” Faust admits that even though he graduated from a seminary, people sometimes look at him funny. “My momma is a Godly-woman, but when I told her I was going to open up a drug ministry, she said ‘They will kill you, you are going to have to watch them,’” he said with a laugh.

Yet there is a realization that things have changed and today, the typical drug user is not easily recognized. “They are sitting in church beside you,” Faust states matter-of-factly. “I am 47. When I was growing up, you would see a guy riding a motorcycle, tattooed with chains hanging, and we would say ‘there is a drug user.’ Now they look like me and you.”

Still The Fountain of Life experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, becoming more and more a regular church, while remaining welcoming to all. “We do Sunday morning church from 10-11 a.m. Amazingly, we have reached 40,000 people in ten years.

Sometimes God has a unique way of showing Faust how his obedience affected others. “I felt someone tap me on the shoulder recently who was a former client,” the pastor shared. “He said, ‘Errol, if you would not have obeyed God, I would not be buying steaks and potatoes for me and my wife.’ The Lord was showing me we are making a difference. I went to Cherry Street and O’Neal Lane and eight or nine random people approached me and said ‘that place changed my life,’” Faust continued with humility. “The Lord uses those people to remind us, we are making a difference. That is how He says ‘keep doing this.’”

Semi-weekly on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., the church offers a program called Ear to Hear. Randy and Yvonne Volles come from Baton Rouge. Their son was once a resident and they wanted to remain involved in the addiction ministry. They host small group discussion with people affected by addictions and recovery. Faust explains, “Sometimes, you just need an ear to hear. You are not going to fix people, but you can learn some steps to take. We try to help the whole family. My daddy was an addict so our whole family was in Al-Anon. But you must know who that the higher power they talk about in that program is … Now-a-days God could mean anything. Preachers need to talk about Jesus. If you will cry out and say ‘God would you help me?’ He will start revealing himself to you. We’ve had atheist, Hindu, Muslim, a homosexual.”

Life is different now for Faust than when he worked on a church staff. The pastor recalls, “Back then I could sit back in my office with a full staff. I was getting comfortable when the Lord started stirring. God said, ‘Don’t get comfortable here.’ Now and I see how the Lord brought me here. I’ve always had a soft spot for this ministry, because I know what it is like to have addiction in a family. When daddy had to go to CDU, it brought our family together. He died 40 years later of a heart attack. My two siblings and myself are now very close.”

Still the road to building a ministry has been rocky. Faust suffered a personal setback when his wife left him. “In 2006 she said ‘see you later.’ It was the lowest part in my life. I did not see it coming. I was like, ‘God, I have been serving you and doing all this and this is what I get? To hell with all this.’ I had a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old and me and a ministry.” Faust remembers it as his season of confusion. This led to ministry taking a back seat to personal issues. Through the hurting he was in his own season of loss. As Faust struggled, unsure of what to do with his ministry, others took over the pulpit, and the church kept going. After a few months of what he called ‘getting his head on straight,’ Pastor Faust decided to start preaching again on Friday nights.

Even a mentor to many, sometimes we all need one of our own. For Faust that was Jerry Kinchen. “Mr. Jerry Kinchen has been a supporter of our ministry. When I went through the divorce, I would cry. He would come every day and sit with me in the church. He would drink coffee and read a magazine. He was a family friend, but now he is like my daddy. Sad thing is he has a son who is addicted to drugs.”

Months later, Faust met Michelle. “I needed to find my girls a mamma!” he laughed. “I called her and asked her out, it was God who brought us together,” he says lovingly. The couple has been married eight years.

Staying true to his call, Faust has learned a lot from starting a residential recovery ministry. “Treatment is not a cookie cutter treatment,” he explains. “One person may get healthy in a month, the next person may take two months. Under-treatment or over-treatment is equally bad.

Beyond the recovery ministry, however, Fountain of Life is a busy place. That 2,400 square-foot building, which Faust once feared might never be filled, hosts services Sunday morning, Wednesday and Friday nights. Every other week on Tuesday there is Ear to Hear. On Thursdays there is a men’s fellowship with an average attendance of about 30. “Sunday mornings we offer children’s church. We have a metal building and have been talking about what to do with that space for two years. With the idea of using it for ministry, Mr. Jerry (Kinchen) called and said ‘I will pour the concrete.’ That was a good start. The church decided to launch a fundraiser to get that building ready. The leaders agreed to use a drawn thermometer to keep the congregation updated on fundraising efforts. One Sunday Faust announced the plans to the congregation.

“We came out of church,” Faust remembered, “and, there is this guy who came for the first time and has only been back one time. His name is Kevin Keller, he is a contractor who just came to visit our church. He said, ‘Tell Jerry that I will pay $40,000. On Monday they came with the plans, and on Tuesday they started to work. They bricked it, put windows in, carpet, AC stuff, put classrooms in and glass doors.”

As it so often happens when God closes doors, followers of Jesus find that closed door just may be our own personal miracle from God. That is the revelation of Errol Faust and the genesis of a giant ministry, Fountain of Life, in the small town of Albany, Louisiana.

by Jehan Seals

Only once in a lifetime maybe do you want something so badly that nothing else compares. You would give your life to see a dream or promise come to fruition, yet the matter can only be won by God. These battles of opposition stand so tall that your best efforts fail to get the job done. In these moments we press God because we can’t figure out a way. ‘I can’t accomplish this alone,’ you say, ‘God where are you, I need a miracle!’

Often, this sense of urgency forms out of fear, “but it’s faith we need to move God, not fear,” says Renee Hymel. “The first miracle happens inside the heart of the mother. When she begins to believe God’s Word, it changes her.” Renee knows about the power of miracles through prayer personally, as well as through the testimony of others. As a steadfast praying mother of four, Renee joined forces with Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer to build and transform the heart of a mother.

Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer was founded by Kathy Coleman and has gained international recognition. Now with the spreading of the good news, churches are inviting the WMDOP ministry to build, equip and empower moms to stand in faith on behalf of their children. Renee and The Church in St. Amant diligently carry out the vision to encourage and equip moms to be steadfast in prayer for their children.

“I opened a praying magazine and there was an article about Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer, I got the contact information, called my pastor, and in January 2007 we hosted our first event.” Renee explains how after seeking more effective ways to pray for her then unsaved son Scott, she found relief through WMDOP and immediately got involved.

“Six weeks later my son, whom I had been praying for, was saved. By Easter he was baptized at Healing Place Church. Today he’s a pastor whom I serve under.” She explains the miracle is in believing God’s Word. “The scriptural promises in God’s Word are plentiful however, the miracle is in believing the word. Isaiah 59:21 confirms the covenant God made with our forefathers, it’s up to us to search the scriptures, believe and cease not to pray.”

“As a mom, prayers are continual. They don’t end with salvation. The title requires a lifelong commitment.” Renee adds how with the heartbreaking loss of her granddaughter Eliyah Kate meant learning to trust God even in times of heartache.

“Those first months my grief was not my own, for I ached in prayer for my children and though the grief was hard to walk through, I witnessed an incredible time of intimacy in the Lord as I watched him take my family through the valley of the shadow of death.”

Ephesians 6:17 provides us with an image of the armor of God and how as children of God we should be dressed: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer is about developing the heart of a mother to stand in the most important role of her life outside of being conformed to the image of Christ, prayer warrior. “We come together throughout the year, but daily we encourage, build, and strengthen each other to stand firm.”

“The times in my life before Christ when I was in no shape to cry out for my own soul, I knew deep down that the cries of my mother would be heard,” Scott says. “The constant prayers of my mother have brought great profit, for now I live in Christ.”

“WMDOP are like drills that equip me in the battle against the enemy’s lies and deception with my child,” Pam Gautreau says. “As I stand with other praying moms, I am invigorated and encouraged in the realization that Jesus has already won the battle for me. I just have to continue to trust in God’s promises and never lose hope because he is always faithful.”

“WMDOP has equipped me to fight for my own prodigal son from the side of victory and God’s promises rather than guilt, fear and defeat,” Melissa Delage says. “It has given me hope and a body of other mom’s that can stand with and for me when my arms grow weary and I feel hopeless.”

by Lisa Tramontana

Jennifer and Donald Hartung were still newlyweds when they packed their belongings, left their Baton Rouge families, and headed to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in December 2014. They were on their way to work as missionaries through their church, River Ministries International, based in Addis, La. Preaching the gospel was a shared dream, but one that started with separate callings.

Donald had chosen his path while he was attending culinary school as a teenager. He began attending church with his father and became interested in missionary work. Six years earlier, Donald’s father had participated in a missionary program and had shared stories with his son about his experiences in Asia. “I grew up hearing these stories and I had vivid images of what it had been like,” said Donald. “Once I joined the church, I knew I wanted to do the same thing.”

After completing culinary school, Donald went through a training program in southeast Asia. He visited Cambodia, learned about the culture, studied the language, and prepared for a life of mission work. He might have thought all of his big decisions were behind him, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Not long after he returned to Baton Rouge, he and Jenn started spending time together and romantic sparks began to fly. The timing certainly wasn’t ideal, but it forced the couple to think deeply about their relationship, their future and their faith.

“I knew that he was committed to the life of a missionary, so it was a struggle for me,” said Jenn, who was finishing a business degree at LSU. “I didn’t want to start a relationship that might not work out. And I didn’t want to interfere with his plans. But I had certainly never imagined myself as a missionary. I had always put them on a pedestal. I asked God, ‘Is it possible you would trust me to serve in this way?’ I just wasn’t sure if I was worthy.”

In the end, after much thought and prayer, Jenn felt that God was not only speaking to her, but calling her to a life as a missionary and as a wife and partner to Donald. “I remember the moment I realized my calling. I was walking through Free Speech Alley at LSU, feeling as light as air, in love and happy that I knew what God wanted for me.”

The wedding took place in August and four months later, Jenn and Donald flew to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city located on the Mekong River. There, they worked under the mentorship of Jeremy and Danielle Fontenot, another missionary couple (from Baton Rouge) who had been living in Cambodia for several years and had founded three “home churches” in the area. Jenn and Donald worked as instructors, teaching English and preaching the gospel in the nearby towns of Kien Svay and Preh Kampues.

In time, they began working at an orphanage in Phnom Penh, and recently started making monthly visits to a Christian school in Toul Kork, about an hour from their home. At the orphanage, Donald and other male missionaries organized a soccer team, not just to extend their relationship-building, but to provide positive male role models for the children, especially the young boys.

When they share the gospel, Jenn says, they are always careful to respect the Cambodian social and religious cultures. “The people there are very polite, but we don’t want to cause any trouble for them. We know that in their Buddhist society, many of them are mocked and mistreated when they become Christians. Of course, we always speak the truth, but we are also careful in our approach.”

The River Ministries website states that the church’s vision is to take the Good News gospel of Christ to an international audience, teaching children and adults Biblical values and planting “miracle workers” in the harvest fields of the world. The Hartungs are a living example of this vision.

“Faith isn’t easy,” said Donald. “Our nature is to give up on it, but it is something we must grow. The Bible describes faith as small as a mustard seed. If we are going to stake our lives on it, we must water it and tend to it daily in order to make it strong.”

The Hartungs came home to Baton Rouge a few days before Thanksgiving to spend time with their families and to touch base with their church. They will return to Cambodia in January. Jenn says their year in Cambodia has strengthened their commitment and desire to serve God.

“Our faith is our life, our breath, the reason for everything we do,” said Jenn. “It is not just a belief, doctrine, or knowledge that we’ve acquired. It’s the whole of us, our means and our end. Our faith has given us an eternal perspective, one that has helped us to see the true value of things further than their purpose here and now. Our lives would be drastically different had we chosen not to give our lives to faith in Jesus.”

Leaders at River Ministries International are excited about their Cambodian ministry. For anyone interested in helping to support the program or in becoming a missionary, visit the website at riverup.org or contact RMI at (225) 678-7777.

by Tonya Woodridge-Jarvis

Believing in miracles is something often said but less often believed…The Refresher

The Bible says in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Someone asked me if I believed in miracles? My response was, “I believe in the power of God.”

Read this miraculous story illustrating the power of God:

Alana Green is a fun-loving 8-year-old girl who loves being a majorette and marching with her local high school band. Yes, that’s right she is only eight and good enough to march with the high school band.  Recently Alana developed a rash on her arm and thinking nothing of it, her mother treated it with over-the-counter- products. But the rash started to spread and soon covered her body from head to toe.

Her parents rushed her to the hospital where she was treated as a lab rat. The doctors were making educated guesses as to what they thought it could be. They treated her as if she was a burn victim scraping her skin 2-3 times a day. She would remain in the hospital for 11 days before she was diagnosed with a rare skin disorder called Steven Johnson’s Syndrome—a life threatening skin condition that causes the outer layers of the skin to separate from the inner layers with rashes, blisters and lesions all over the body.  She was unrecognizable. The doctors informed Ms. Greene that she would likely remain in the hospital for months.

Ms. Greene understood that she couldn’t tackle this alone, so she reached out to her church (LFCC) requesting prayer for this unknown disease.  The church responded and sent a busload of prayer warriors to the hospital. Three days later Alana’s skin was clearing up and the family was headed home. The doctors were stumped. Alana is now back in school and on the honor roll.

I challenge the people reading this to connect with God using the very powerful tool called prayer. Prayer really does work.  So the next time you are faced with a question of belief, remember that God is just as real today as he was yesterday.

by Elmo Winters

Nearly every day we hear a story about how someone defied the laws of nature or of some experience that is at best unexplainable. It may be in the form of an infant surviving extreme premature birthing, or the survival of ordinary people after some catastrophic natural disaster, or some unimaginable outcome against the most challenging odds. We quickly identify these occurrences as miracles without question. In fact, they perfectly fit the definition of a miracle – an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers.

The key to understanding miracles is found in the fact that they transcend all known natural powers or logical explanations. As believers we readily accept that they are the activities of the supernatural, specifically the things that God does on a regular basis. When we consider the biblical account of creation, we see the very origin of everything to be the result of God miraculously speaking. The words of Genesis 1:3 clearly tells us, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” And then we read in verse 9, “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.” And this God did repeatedly as the world was brought into being. We can even conclude that the Bible, the written Word of God, is a continuous presentation of one miracle after another.

From the beginning of mankind in the Garden of Eden to our very existence today, we see the picture of an all-powerful creator operating in a manner that totally escapes the natural understanding and wisdom of man. Moses was confronted with this phenomenon when he stood witnessing a burning bush that was not being consumed. The Jews witnessed this at the parting of the Red Sea, along with so many mighty acts by God during their wilderness wandering. The New Testament continued the flow of miracles as Jesus did great wonders throughout His lifetime. He turned water into wine; fed thousands with two barley loaves of bread and five little fishes; He healed many and even raised the dead back to life. How does one logically explain these things? We don’t; we simply rationalize that they are miracles.

In His infinite wisdom however, God reserved His greatest miracle for those whom he loved the most, mankind. His ultimate miracle, the miracle of all miracles, was salvation: God’s plan of reconciliation with and redemption of man. He came in the form of His own son as a baby born of a virgin. That baby, Jesus (Christ) lived 33 miraculous years sharing the love of God with so many. Yet, as had been prophesized He would sacrificially die by crucifixion on a cross, be buried, and on the third day rise from the dead. It was through all of this that the words of John the Baptist became clear, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

It is this miracle of salvation that takes away the sin of all who believe in the redemptive work of Christ. That is the message of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The key here is “whosoever believeth in him,” for salvation, although free, is not automatic. It does require faith, sincerely believing in the work of God through His son, Christ. Attempts to experience Salvation by any other means are futile; it is the gift of God according to His grace.

For this reason, we are instructed by Christ to go into all of the world and tell others about this miracle of Salvation. Far too many, countless millions, have never heard the Good News (Gospel) of Christ. Thus, it is imperative that believers reach out to those and bring them into the blessing of this powerful gesture of God. It is why I wrote the book, “Growing By Going,” where the simple principles of leading people to Christ are shared. Additionally, I work tirelessly to train and coach others on becoming effective witnesses, through the KINGDOM School of Witnessing.