November – December 2013
Supporting Church Families & Friends,
“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” – Ps 118:23 As we’ve reached the end of another year, we look back over 2013 and are truly amazed at the wonderful year He has blessed us with. His grace and mercy are ever-present, and we can truly see marvelous things as we think back to all He has done for us during the past year. It is with great excitement and anticipation that we press toward the mark in this coming year! What a privilege to serve the King!
November and December were very exciting months for us here in Arizona. Between the Casa Grande and Ak-Chin Village churches, we had several special services, including Friends & Family Day, a special Thanksgiving Dinner Service, and a pancake breakfast service. These were very well attended, with several visitors, including some first-time visitors, to each. We are grateful for the new people we met. Some visitors have attended sporadically since, and we are praying they will start coming more often and learn of Him Who is mighty to save!
We were blessed with a visit from one of our dear preacher friends and supporters, Pastor Sam Vance. He preached several times for us during December, and the Lord greatly used him to speak to hearts and encourage us all! I’m thankful for faithful friends who boldly proclaim His Word and live what they preach!
We were blessed again to be able to distribute Christmas gifts to all the children we are privileged to work with on the reservation, and to the elderly in the nursing home as well! What a great time to tell of, share and show His love for each of them! Thank you to all who prayed for and gave to this project! Only eternity will tell the return on your investment! We must tell of one special young girl attending church from one of the villages, Alexis. She is a 10 year old girl who has most faithfully attended the church for the past couple of years, taking part in the yearly Bible reading club, inviting friends, and has even had her mother at church a time or two over the past year. She does all of this without anyone at home encouraging her to get up, get ready, get to church, read her Bible, etc… The Lord rewarded her with an especially nice new bicycle, which caused her to almost break down in tears! What an exciting time in our little church to see the Lord reward a faithful servant of His! Please remember Alexis in your prayers, for her protection and spiritual growth. Prayers for her family, and the other children and families on the reservation, is also greatly appreciated!
We did just have the opportunity to say “see you later” to one of our faithful members and longtime friends from the AkChin church. Ms. Mary was saved, baptized, and attended regularly for several years. The past few years have seen her suffer much from broken bones and surgeries, to cancer treatments. She has been living several hours away for the past couple of years during this time. At the end of the year, she suddenly passed away from this life of an apparent heart problem. Though she will be deeply missed by friends and family here, we are very grateful to know where she is, and for the promise that we will meet again, by the grace of God!
Thank you for continued prayers & support! May each of us do all we can for Him in 2014!
Working together with you for HIM,
Brian & Louann Shannon & family