Take heart!

If you read our local news, you will be reminded daily that we live in a very broken place that so desperately needs Jesus’ grace and mercy! This article is just one example from today…

http://m.krdo.com/w/feature/story/100310018/

However, in the midst of it, God is still at work and is still using us. This is a small bit of a text I received from a nurse we made a special connection with while I was inpatient after my recent emergency surgery…

“Your card and message were just what I needed, Amanda! Long story that I’ll share with you some day. Basically, I prayed in the car, on the way to work, asking God, to help me feel His love that day. You were an instrument in His hands. Thank you!”

I grieve over and pray for the brokenness all around me. I know it is everywhere, to some extent, but it’s so much more widespread out here, with way fewer committed Christians praying over it and piercing the darkness with the boldly spoken Gospel truth.

Once I was coherent enough to understand that I would be staying in the hospital for about a week, I prayed that I would “let (my) light so shine before men that they would see (my) good works and glorify my Father in Heaven,” even through my pain and lack of sleep! He did, y’all!

All around us AND YOU, there are people who don’t know the real love of God, people who have lost sight of Him and need to be led back that way, and people who know for sure they are saved, but need to be loved on by us. Pray every day that you’ll be an instrument in His hands. In this life, you WILL have trials, but TAKE HEART, for He has overcome the world! Ask the One true overcomer to dwell richly in you and use you as one of His instruments, for His glory!

Unexpected Silence

It has been a long time since we last posted here. Things have been a bit chaotic, busy and uncertain. So, here is an update of what is going on with the Sanford’s.

We were assessed for church planting by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in late August. They have recommended that we move to Lowry and continue in the internship phase, then move into an apprenticeship before taking on the “lead planter” title. This will allow us more time to develop relationships, a team and to begin ministry in the neighborhood before the clock starts ticking, so to speak, on funding and expectations. This is great for us as we “get on the ground” with NAMB’s blessing, but our runway is lengthened as we minister in a place where 10,000+ people have no evangelical ministry in place at all. And should God move quickly, once we are living there, NAMB will advance the title to match the stage of the plant.

In regards to moving, we are still waiting for placement with Apartment Life, but we are making plans to relocate toward the end of the year if no opportunities through Apartment Life are available in Lowry. Please pray for God’s favor and His move among the ownership of the apartment complexes in Lowry so that a placement will open in the next few weeks.

Finally, in the midst of these things, Amanda had to have emergency abdominal surgery last week. She spent the better part of 3 hours in surgery to remove part of her colon that had flipped, thus causing extreme pain and obstructing her bowels. She is recovering, but with it being sudden and major, her recovery will take at least 6-8 weeks. Please pray that she will heal with no complications and that she will be willing to rest appropriately so that she can heal.

We are thankful for all who prayed, contacted us, and have helped us with meals and the kids over the past few weeks. God has shown His love through you.