Prayer Request

I've had a hard time coming up with the words for this post, so I'll start at the end: Please pray for my church this week. On Friday night, a man in our church was killed in an accident on the way home from work. I want to respect the privacy of his friends and family, so I'll keep the details out of this blog, but it is a tragedy that has hit our church very hard.

Pastor White ministered to us yesterday morning in an incredible way. He helped me so much through his preaching, and I know he helped our church. He spoke from Acts chapter 9, which tells the story of Dorcas, a saint in the early church who died. Her friends did a couple of things that Pastor White encouraged us to do. When Peter arrived, they showed him the coats and garments that Dorcas made. Pastor White encouraged us to be ready to show our brother's family the things he had done, areas that he was involved in our church, or ways that he was a blessing. Dorcas' friends also put her in an upper chamber. Pastor White talked to us about making sure our grief doesn't bring depression. So many will turn to drugs or drinking during times of grief, but a child of God, who has the hope of a heavenly reunion, can rejoice and worship even in a time such as this.

Grief is a strange thing - when a loved one suffers from illness for months or years, we start going through the grieving process before they are even gone, and hopefully we say the things we need to say. When someone is taken unexpectedly, we are left wishing we could have said more.

One good thing has already come to pass. A lady that had been coming to our church was at the scene of the accident on Friday night. Yesterday she decided to get baptized in Jesus' name! I pray that others will be touched through the life of one that has gone on to his eternal reward.

My prayer request is this: pray for our church family - Victory Tabernacle in Burbank, California - that we will be strengthened and in turn be a strength to the family and friends that will be coming to the memorial service (details still pending). And pray for our Pastor and his wife, as they will shoulder a heavy load this week.