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As we approached our annual Holiday of Hope season of giving to others
in services and goods, I think of a young lad named Conner, eight years of age, whose mother brought him into OB on Christmas
Eve.This yooung lad had worked and earned some money and wanted to donate it for a good cause. He came into our offices and
handed me his hard earned $7.00. We have had love offerings as high as $10,000 at a time but somehow this $7.00 was as much
as any. It was a humbling experience.
This reminded me of the biblical story of the lady who gave her two mites
in the offering. And Jesus advised his hearers that she had given more than everyone in the Church (Mark 12:42).
I have no doubt that young Conner had one of the best Christmas ever!.
It was his empowerment to give and not just receive. Conner made Christmas come alive to many hearts this year.
In Him, Elmo
AAA Crisis Pregnancy Counseling Update
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By Cindi Ritchie
Praise the Lord!!! January has been an amazing month here at AAA Crisis
Pregnancy Center. We are never bored, but this month has truly been exceptional and we certainly give God all the glory.
At the beginning of the month Joan came into the office to visit us. She
had just come from the doctor where she heard her baby's heart beat for the first time. Joan was so excited saying' "I just
had to come by and see you!" . She said, "When I came by to get my pregnancy test a few months ago, I was on my way to the
abortion clinic. I just wanted to be certain that I was pregnant before going. I had already one abortion, and could not imagine
having a child."
She also said, "When I sat down to talk with you in your office, there
on your desk was a picture of Malachi (Malachi is an aborted baby that had been reconstructed by the abortionist to make certain
that all of the baby parts were out of the mother so that there could be no infection).When I saw Malachi, I realized for
the first time that I was carrying a real baby within me, not just a blob of flesh. My life completely changed at that very
moment. I knew I would not have an abortion, no matter what anyone said."
Her boyfriend and she are now in a church and are getting married in March!
We are so happy. It could have been so different, but God protected their family. The second time she came in was to share
her bliss and say 'Thankyou'.
Later in the month we had one of those emergencies that makes you yell
out to the Lord - "Holy Spirit, please tell all of our parayer partners to be praying really hard right now!!!"
Laura called us on the verge of suicide. She was being tormented by the
enemy because she had an abortion a few weeks earlier. Laura had written a goodbye letter and had the pills in front of her.
She was going to take them to end her life. We called 911 and continued to talk to Laura until the police and the medical
officers arrived at her house. They took her to the hospital, and we were greatly relieved. Later that day Laura came to the
center and experienced deliverance and healing from the Lord. We were able to lead her to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior
and Lord. What a wonderful Lord we have!!!
Please continue to pray for all that happens at the AAA Crisis Pregnancy
Center. Precious lives depend upon your prayers.
I
Love You, Cindi
Resource Manager & In-Take Counselor Update
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By Brooke Medina
God is so good! In giving testimony to what God is truly doing here at
Operation Blessing,on January 14th, two women came in looking for one of our counselors. The counselor that they were in search
of was not in.I overheard them in the waiting room and assumed they wanted to speak to me. I was wrong, but God was not!
I asked the two women, if they were saved. The second woman, whom I had
not spoken much to until then said that she was not. She then said she was now ready to be saved. Not often do you see someone
that eager to be saved, yet this was appointed by God. The second woman gave her heart to Christ! I asked what church
she attended and discovered she goes to the same church I attend. I told her about discipleship classes that are held on a
weekly basis at a believer's home three miles away from her home.
God truly did work this out and now she has a new life in Christ! Praise
God! He is holy, just, and a righteous God! Psalms 58:11 says this, "Then at last everyone will say, 'There truly is a reward
for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth."
Our god is a just God. Please understand that God's plans for us are not
to harm us, but to give us a future and hope. Revelation speaks of God avenging the blood of the martyrs.
Brothers and sisters, the wicked will receive their reward, but if they
turn from their sins they will be forgiven. In Ezekial 32:2, God told Ezekiel to pray for Pharaoh, even though God had pronounced
that he would bring judgement on him. Let's pray for those who we know need to be saved. The Bible says that God's will is
that none should perish, but that all should come to eternal life.
God's will is that even you have a relationship with Him. If you
don't have that right relationship with Him and you know that the life you are choosing to live right now is taking you toward
judgement, please give your life to Him today. The Bible says this, "Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is
the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)." Repent (turn) from your sins and ask Jesus Christ to be Lord of your life. Give
your heart over to Him. If you want Him, know that He wants you even more! Don't hesitate to come, for He says, "Come!"
If you gave your heart to Christ today, please let us know. We want to
be your brothers and sisters and help encourage you and prod you forward in your walk with Christ. Please call us. Our number
is (910) 483-1119. We love you all, because God loves you all!
In
Christ, Brooke
Minister Patricia Hunter Intake & AAA CPC Counselor
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Recently,on a Sunday night I received a call from my sister Iris. She informed
me that my mother in the Lord, Evangelist Helen McNeil, was about to go home to be with the Lord. She was comatose -- going
in and out of consciousness. A doctor notified the family that she would probably not make it through the night. Sister Mac,
as we fondly called her was 91 years old. At her request, Sister Mac's Son took her home. Afterwards, family and close frieds
put out a call to those who loved her, in case any wanted to see her.
We drove to Virginia to see her. When we arrived, she was in a wheelchair; bent
over with her eyes shut. So, we prayed that the Lord would touch her one more time. We read her favorite scripyures (Isaiah
53 and chapters 1 & 2 of Acts) and sang one of her favorite songs "When We All Get To Heaven." Then, the Lord allowed
her to understand that we were there. She became alert and shuffled her feet like she was dancing. She decided to give us
one more teaching, "When you've been through something, you will know what you are talking about." It was good to hear her
voice and see that knowing smile of faith on her face.
My husband, Jonny, let her know that he was receiving his honorary Doctor of
Divinity degree. She smiled again. She had once said that The Lord anoints you but it is good to get the paper. My husband
and I got our foundational teaching in the word of God through her. We told herthat we loved her. She always called us her
little children. We had one last prayer with her. Sister Mac quietly lowered her head; we knew she wanted her rest. The following
Wednesday she fell asleep in The Lord's arms.
We praise God that we, like many other bishops, pastors, elders, and missionaries,
are products of her prayers, her labor of love and her work in ministry. And we know she has entered into that eternal rest
which, through Christ Jesus, she has received.
Yours
In Christ, Sis Pat Hunter
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