July 2002 Newsletter

July, 3 2002

Greetings from the land of one thousand smokes

Ok, maybe not a thousand, but it is smoky. As I’m sure you’ve heard, Colorado is experiencing it’s worst fire season in many years. Even though most of the states is untouched, Gunnison is pretty hazy right now.

Since April, I’ve intertwined preaching and firefighting almost non-stop. But, it’s been great sharing the good news of Jesus from Kentucky to Kansas, California to Colorado as well as Oklahoma.

This past month I was on fires in Durango and Glenwood Springs, CO and then Melva and I belatedly celebrated our 31st anniversary during a ministry trip to San Diego.
The San Diego trip was a wonderful blessing as we taught each day in the Horizon School of Evangelism and then shared with over 200 Home Fellowship leaders.
During the weekend we shared at five services and saw the Lord touch a number of lives. We also did a live radio program.
Horizon Christian Fellowship is an awesome church with outreaches around the world. They have planted over 40 churches in the area. What a privilege to work with them over the last 8 years or so.

Family: I leave this afternoon on another fire assignment, Melva will hold down the home front, Joy leaves to serve in England for 2 months, Rebekah is back from Honduras and working in Vail, Steve is working toward college as well as leading worship in Texas for a weekend, and Tim is working toward college.

Prayer requests: For those who received Christ this past week in San Diego to grow and be nourished, for continued anointing in sharing, for safety on the fire ( I just heard of another fatality this morning) and most of all that each of us will walk close to Jesus and each other,

Finances: Things are holding even, thanks for each of you and your faithful prayers and support. You are making a difference! We are giving away more firefighter new testaments this year than ever before, more responses to the gospel, and more attendance at our meetings! We depend on God’s grace working through your prayers! THANK YOU!

CD: Our first album is now in CD form and our second album should be out by mid-august. Call or write for a copy. Blessings, Rick and Melva