God At Work

Many prayers have been lifted up by us and on our behalf, praying for God to be at work here in Colorado Springs. Just wanted you to know He is!!! How? Well, I’m so glad you asked!! 🙂
Just after we followed a prompting of the Holy Spirit last weekend and went door to door meeting neighbors, relationships began to develop. Our next door neighbor came and brought us fresh veggies from his garden, as he closes it to end the season…another opportunity to chat, show thankfulness, be blessed and be a blessing! Coupons and samples of baby formula arrived in our mailbox, addressed to a former renter, and I was able to deliver them and a few other baby goodies to the expectant mom behind us whose husband is deployed. This time we talked longer, specifically about why we moved here, and she is intrigued by the Gospel in us, joy yet a believer! Also, while walking one of our dogs, Eric met a neighbor across the road (area not yet canvassed) and he is a believer, employed by a parachurch organization, active in a church here…praying he will help in reaching out and ministering to our neighborhood! We may host a fall gathering outside in the next few weeks…pray God will orchestrate that as only He could’ve orchestrated these other interactions!
Also, as many of you know, our contract on our house in Demopolis fell through after we settled into our home here. Financially, that is discouraging, but God continues to provide through many of you. We are still certain He has a PERFECT plan, as His Word tells us, and we are trusting in that plan! We’ve had a couple of calls about our house, one to schedule a showing, in the last couple of days! He knows our buyer by name and He strengthens our faith with each month we trust Him for provision!
Speaking of provision, you can make a tax deductible donation toward our life and ministry in CO if the Lord leads. You can mail a check to Vanguard Church, c/o Church Planting, 3950 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80917. Just be sure to note “Sanford Family” on memo line, please! Also, online giving is now set up for one time and monthly recurring donations. Just visit https://vanguardchurch.ccbchurch.org/login.php, enter your first and last name and email address, and our receptionist, Andrea, will send you login info. You can give with a debit or credit card on the secure site, even choosing when $ will be drafted. Thank you to so many of you who have given so generously and sacrificially. You are a huge part of what is happening here! You can still sign up to pray with us and receive our monthly prayer updates…just email us at eric@sanfordfamily.org and we will add you. Prayer is vital for this journey and we are grateful for over 100 current prayer partners!
Another opportunity God provided this past weekend was for Eric to be able to bring 3 men from a local rescue mission to Vanguard for Sat night worship. We were privileged to meet them, hear their stories, and introduce them to our church family. God is at work in these 3 lives. Pray for strength and victory over addiction, salvation and/or spiritual growth. A lady we met at the block party a couple of weeks ago was in the Sat night service the past 2 weekends. She asked many questions of us at the block party and she and I talked again this weekend. She is searching. Pray God will be evident to her and she will respond to the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudge in her heart and life.
Provisions and opportunities abound…may we never cease to be full of praise, giving God the Glory and being filled with His Word and His Spirit, so we may overflow into others. May God guard us and guide us so our lives may be a pure example of Him to these He continues to bring into our paths. We covet your continued prayers that we are being obedient and that our lives and service are God-honoring!!