I know, I know…someone already used that as a title of a popular book, but I haven’t gotten to read it yet so I won’t be plagiarizing or stealing even the idea. Ha!
Been thinking that some of you may want to be involved in ministry in Colorado in more tangible ways, rather than just giving online or mailing a check, or maybe in addition to that type of giving. We have reached a point here, thanks be to God, where we can make some specific ministry requests.
Recently, Courtland Baptist Church in Courtland, AL collected items in the missions class of VBS, organized by our sweet friend, April Reding. Items collected include necessary supplies for beginning to host a small group meal and Bible study in our home such as paper products, plasticware, and activities for children who will attend with their families. Also, the mission friends group at Farley Community Church in Huntsville, Alabama collected items we can use with kids who attend our home group and/or backyard Bible clubs we can organize as soon as we settle in Lowry! We are so thankful and blessed by these two groups’ selfless collections!
We have current ministry needs as well. Giving many of you have done through Vanguard individually is helping us meet some tangible needs in Colorado Springs already, but we see more needs springing up, some immediate.
We have a friend whose husband is currently deployed and will be until at least October. Several things have happened since he left, leaving big needs. We would love to bless our friend, Alina, with gas and grocery gift cards so she can provide for herself and her two young boys until she finishes some classes and home projects that will allow her to open an in-home daycare for more income. We have (in common with the south) Wal-Mart, Target and Kroger for groceries and other necessities; for gas, Shell, 7-11, Texaco and Conoco. If you can find a source, we have Safeway and King Soopers grocers and Kum N Go and Loaf N Jug gas that are also popular.
Another immediate need is that the nurse who gives Alex his weekly allergy shot lost her entire home and all of her stuff to the Black Forest Fire. We want to be a blessing to her as well. Insurance will replace most of her things, but not immediately. We praise God for sparing her life, as well as the lives of her husband and dog. Wrapping our minds around replacing everything is impossible, having fortunately never been victims of a natural disaster, but we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Long-term motel living is inconvenient and costly. We would love to gift her grocery, toiletry and restaurant gift cards. We also want to buy her a Bible and highlight some verses in it. Pretty certain she isn’t a believer, but we are praying for God to draw her to Himself through this tragedy.
Eric will be attending the Southern Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief training at the end of June and we hope to know some other tangible needs of fire victims afterward and share them with you. You may want to share these needs with a group you are part of and collect some items, or mail individual items to us at 1416 E Uintah St, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. We will provide updates as needs are met and God softens hearts and builds His Kingdom!
As we approach our move to the Lowry neighborhood of Denver, please continue to pray with us for a placement through Apartment Life. Pray for us as we prepare our hearts and minds for yet another new chapter of life, for peace knowing God goes before us and is preparing a harvest, both here and there!

As most of you already know, our area of Colorado is currently plagued by wildfires. One of the fires, the Black Forest fire, has already been named the most destructive fire in Colorado state history. Many have asked, and we are in no danger, as we live 10-15 miles from this fire line. However, our hearts are broken for our city. Thousands of people are displaced, evacuated from their homes. Over 400 homes are already listed as “total loss”. Two people have died as a result of the fire, who appear to have been feverishly packing items they couldn’t bear to leave behind. Though it is easy for us to say homes, vehicles, and home contents are just material things, the reality is that those same things represent years of hard work, strong family memories, and high sentimental value. Many responders are working to contain and extinguish these fires. The firemen on the front lines are constantly on our minds. The emotions wrapped in a wildfire in a residential area are difficult to imagine and impossible to empathize with if you haven’t lived through it. Though we haven’t ever experienced a fire or a loss like that, God has placed many prayer and ministry opportunities within this tragic circumstance and He can use this inferno for His Glory! We believe He will! So many great stories of the rescue of people and animals, care for responders, and community building are beginning to be reported. Several have spoken boldly of God’s protection and provision. In an area where Mother Nature has gotten most of the blame and/or credit, it excites me to hear God’s name glorified and praised.
At a children’s event at a local public library this week, I was able to minister to an older lady who was awaiting word on the fate of her home and her stuff, just by noticing her tears. She told me some stories of her evacuation day and expressed her deep grief over possibly losing photos that keep her memories alive. We talked about grieving with hope, but she didnt know the Lord, just knows of Him. After talking, she did allow me to pray for her. I prayed scripture over her and begged God to reveal Himself to her, even in her grief. In the quiet corner of a library, while kids/grandkids learn about bunnies, ministry happens, if we allow God to use us. This is an area where He has really stretched me and grown me…boldness amongst strangers. I pray He will continue to grow me and mold me to be more like Him and give me the privilege of ministry and Kingdom growth. Pray for this woman, Deborah or “Gran”, for her salvation and her future, life after this devastating fire. I may never know the fate of her home, but I am trusting and believing that she will be saved!
Though so many homes and “things” are being destroyed, we must continue to give thanks, knowing His love lasts forever!
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