A Frightening Moment: Out of nowhere the Hummer roared through a red light and swerved wildly into oncoming traffic. Narrowly missing two cars, it would not miss the third, a Chevy Silverado pickup, hurling head-on toward the stunned driver. At the last moment, the driver of the Chevy made an instant, adrenalin-filled decision, jacking his truck sharply to the left so the passenger-side took the brunt of the impact. Then the explosion of two cars colliding, shattered glass spraying like fireworks, the Silverado spun around twice, ending up in the opposite direction, totaled. The Hummer, built like a tank, is upended, landing on its side, the collision both snapping an axle and ripping tires right off the rims.
It’s twelve noon a week ago Monday. The driver of the Chevy staggers out of his truck. His first thought? So grateful his wife and son weren’t with him. One or both likely would be dead. The driver of the Hummer is too drunk to climb out, hammered three times over the driving alcohol limit. At noon he is completely wasted. He doesn’t know where he is. He doesn’t know what’s happened. The police arrive, cuff him and take him to jail.
Nikki and I have never been so thankful. The driver of that demolished Chevy was our son Micah. Suffering no life-threatening injuries, he will survive the aches and pains and more, the jarring emotional trauma. When he was born we had another name picked out but changed it right there at birth to Micah, which means “Who is like the Lord?” Indeed, none, the One who answers years of prayers that loved ones would be protected.
Sharing the Joy: Big turnout last week for both Refuge (senior high kids), which meets on Tuesdays and Impact (junior high) meeting on Wednesday. So many kids came to Refuge Pastor Sam says we need more chairs. That’s a really good problem to have.
And Something Else: A really great start to all our new fall Bible studies and gatherings.
Love this photo of Grandma Gloria. Mary Hurlbut, you take the best pictures.
Verse for this Week: 1 Peter 4:7 – “The end of all things is at hand; therefore pray, being sober of spirit and watchful.”
Prayer Needs This Week – a focus on our overseas friends (thank you for taking a moment to pray)…
- The Ministry in Thailand: Our Youth Center in Sangkhlaburi, director Rolyn Cadiz (pray for her back); Training Center in Sanephong Village; assistant overseers Moe and Joseph and their new church plant in Burma; The House of Hope and Mercy Home orphanages, Safe House and director Dahsoe, Rolyn’s ministry partner Cathy and her work in Three-Pagoda’s, right on the Thai/Burma border, Summer, a young and vivacious Burmese girl who we are helping finish college in Bangkok, and Tai Church, pastored by Gai, Khajorn and Gai’s sister Hong.
- Pray also for Gai and Khajorn’s sonImmanuel who flew to America 5 weeks ago and is now attending the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta. There’s lots of adjustment for Immanuel including learning our language, American culture, and making new friends.
- Pray for the Oaxaca Pastor’s Conferencecoming up in November.
- Pray for the Radach Center inGhana, Africa and director Pastor Johnson Asare and his wife Lydia. Warring Muslims are pushing south and Johnson emailed me there is some danger.
- For Paul Aiin Southeast Asia, Bruce Camp in Pakistan and the Dieselberg’s in the red-light district of Bangkok.
- Pray for the House of Mosesin Zambia, Africa. Though we don’t support them as we do all those listed above, it’s a ministry I have visited with my friend Tom Ravensberg. The House of Moses rescues and takes in orphaned and abandoned children, often suffering from AIDS.
- Pray for Sufen Tsai, a Chinese missionary headquartered in Singapore who disciples and trains leaders in China. She is a good friend who has visited Little Church two times. Sufen has an incredibly fruitful ministry even though she is crippled from polio and cannot walk.
Final Thought: God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.
Pastor Jay Jeremiah 33:3