| Dear Praying Friends,
I would like to share two stories with you. Both of these stories are answers to pray. We have asked you to pray with us for the men in the church to become more involved. God is answering your prayers.
Worship leaders. Last December I approached a gentleman in the church to ask him if he would consider helping out in leading worship. He said he would pray about it. He told me after the fact that he did not intend to pray about it, but his wife prompted him a few weeks later. The Holy Spirit continued to prompt him and he could not shake the feeling that God wanted him to serve. In his private life he was backing out of all responsibilities and other obligations and did not want to add something in church. Finally in February he calls me and tells me that God will not let him go. God continually is prompting him that he needs to serve the church. So there is no reason anymore that he cannot lead worship. So I got him on the calendar to lead worship in March. He was extremely nervous and had fun. I asked him if he would be willing to do it again in April and he agreed. God is at work!
Another man in church has occasionally lead worship in the past year and in January told me that he would like to serve the church more and was wondering if he could lead worship more regularly. This has been such a blessing to see these two men want to serve and doing it well.
At home again. Three of the founding members of the church have not been in attendance since the beginning of the Corona pandemic. At our last business meeting in February I asked the church to write a letter to these three men to encourage them to return to church or let us know if they are attending elsewhere. We just did not know where they stood. One of the men texted me on Friday and we scheduled an appointment to meet on Sunday afternoon. He came to church Sunday morning as well. The church responded very lovingly and was genuinely excited to see him again. At our meeting in the afternoon, he tells me has been attending churches all over including many cults. He has been drifting and searching. Attending our church again, brought tears to his eyes as he said, I was home again. I do not know why I was looking elsewhere, but I know where I belong. I am home again. Restoration is a beautiful thing. Please pray for all three of these men to return to the fellowship of believers.
Furlough. I am planning a short 17 day visit to the States to visit some of our supporting churches. I leave the week after Easter and I will be in Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida. It will be a busy time but I look forward to seeing some of you. Please pray for safety in travel, for Leslie and the kids who will stay in Germany.
Thank you for your prayers! They work. God is at work here in Neumarkt and thanks for your part in it!
For His Glory,
Mark and Leslie Boyd |
