Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy…Phil. 1:4
Dear Prayer Partners, family, and friends, June/July 2023
Thank you for your continued support of this ministry among the Native American population. As schools begin a new year, we reflect on a full summer of ministry. We were blessed to host two VBS weeks this year. The first week we had a high attendance of 30 while the second week we saw a high attendance of 60!
In addition to VBS we had several young people attend camp this summer. Some of our teens attended multiple weeks. Two teens received Christ as Saviour. Numerous other spiritual decisions were also made. We are grateful for all the ministry helpers and volunteers who make weeks like this possible. VBS and camp are tools the Lord uses year after year to assist in building His church among the Hualapai!
Back in June, we celebrated dads and our ambassadors to China. On Father’s Day we had special prayer and a small gift for the seven dads in church that morning as well as a special message from God’s Word. The following Sunday, our precious family ministering in China gave us an update of the progress made over the last few years. We are better equipped to pray and give toward the next phase of their vision as they return to Asia.
You may have heard about the heat in the west during the month of July. Thankfully, we are living and ministering at a higher elevation than much of the rest of the state. But it was still a hot, dry month. Amid the heat, we had much to celebrate. In addition to our nation’s birthday, we had two special fellowship Wednesdays and two “Super Sunday” fellowships including July 23 when 8 were baptized after the morning service. Please pray for these four young men and four young ladies as they continue walking and growing with the Lord.
The last Sunday of July was a Fifth Sunday. Each Fifth Sunday, our youth group covers Sunday School and the Sunday morning worship service. Our youth leader preaches the message and teens provide the music, lead the singing, lead in prayer, and collect the offering, as well as other aspects of the morning services. We are so pleased with the growth of these young people and our youth leader.
Finally, we were especially encouraged one Thursday afternoon while our family was cleaning the church. A young man stopped in to speak with Steve. He was considering doing harm to himself and wanted help. Two hours later, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and left in a much better state of mind. He was one of the young men that followed the Lord in believers’ baptism just over one week later. Keep “C” in prayer as he begins a discipleship course with Steve.
For God’s Glory,
The Steve De Ford Family