Holly and I have just returned from the annual Federation of Fire Chaplains conference. This year the conference was held in Annapolis, Maryland. What a blessing to be able to spend a week with chaplains from around North America. The week brought about good training and networking. Mt prayer is to reach first responders with the Gospel of Christ and to encourage them in their daily walk with God. We were able to talk with several chaplains about setting up local groups to help them in their ministry to firefighters. Local groups are a great way to meet together for Bible study and fellowship within their department. Starting a local group will also help them to identify those in the department that can help them in times of crisis. Our table was able to give out a lot of material and Lord willing the chaplains will read through it and be encouraged in their walk. The other blessing of the conference was the opportunity to take a course that will keep up my certification in CISM. In my small town of Boydton Virginia I have already had to conduct two debriefings and 1 defusing for an incident that affected the personnel in the department. Our goal is to start a local group in January and have members trained in CISM who will be able to help out in Mecklenburg County.
A new Bible study, Back to Basics, was placed on our web site. The goal of the ministry is to have a whole library of Bible studies and videos to help first responders walk worthy of the high calling of Christ. We have found that when you put a couple of fire pictures and give them some fire stories they tend to listen better. I am currently working on another study, What We Believe. This study will be available on line and we will be conducting an online Bible study for first responders to go along with it. Please pray with us that this will be used by God to minister to first responders.
The month of November will see two opportunities for our ministry. Next week I will be going to Western, New York to teach the Incident Command System and then to give my testimony at a banquet. Pray that God would save firefighters at this training event. The week after that I will be attending a marriage retreat in Canada. I will be the speaker at this event and am praying that firefighters would be challenged to love their spouses.
The Family
Thank you for your prayers for our family. Seth has graduated top of his class at Fort Meade and is awaiting orders. Seth has continued ear problems and is working with doctors to get the problem resolved. If the doctors can fix it he will get his orders, if not he will be medically discharged. Our families prayer is that he will get it fixed and be able to continue his service to the country. Andrew is doing well in his new job and is looking forward to finding a new place to live after he completes his first year. He would like to move closer to the church he has been attending. Christopher is looking for work here in this small town and Justin has started his own business, small engine repair, at the local fire chiefs auto repair shop. Holly continues to have hip problems and will be going to the doctors in December to chart a course.
Prayer Requests
- That firefighters world wide would use our Bible studies to grow in their relationship with God.
- God would continue to finance our ministry at FCFInternational in order that we might continue to glorify God in the Fire Service.
- The marriage conference and the training class coming up.
- God would provide our ministry with dedicated men and women who are committed to sharing Christ in the fire service and encouraging folks in their walk with God.
- Revival in the fire service.
