Even though the enemy was at work, God, as always, was greater and we began to see the camp unfold.  One boy, in particular, captured our hearts.  This 16 year old had been praying for 10 years that he would be able to spend the day with his dad at a ODWG camp, but the timing had never worked out until the Pamlico camp this weekend.  He called Scottie Wednesday night so excited about coming to the camp, asking her and the staff to pray that his dad would hear the gospel and give his heart to Jesus Christ over the weekend.  We immediately began to pray and when we met his dad on Friday we saw a man who was definitely being pursued by God.  Even though he told Scottie he had settled in his heart long ago that he did not want to be a Christian, we saw a tearful, broken man who was searching for something to fill the void in his life that had become more than he could handle.  After the Friday seminar was over, all the volunteers met in the parking lot of the prison, joined hands, and prayed for the Holy Spirit to cover him, not letting him rest until he allowed Jesus to fill the emptiness in his soul.  As the day started on Saturday, we saw the dads come together with their children and watched this dad and son joyfilly and tearfully unite, and as the day progressed saw God melt this dad’s heart, and as the invitation was given toward the end of the day and the men and children were invited to pray, he bowed his head.  When the group was asked if anyone had prayed to received Christ, tears began to flow and he slowly lifted his hand.  What a joy to see his son throw his arms around his dad’s neck and rejoice with him over his salvation.  Not only him, but a total of 5 dads, 3 children, and 2 caregivers prayed to receive Christ this weekend.  To God be all the glory and honor!!

As Saturday came to a close, Scottie began to write checks to cover camp costs and the traveling expenses of all our wonderful ministry partners who had come to share their messages of hope during the weekend.  I still see her now writing checks that at the time had very few funds in the Pamlico account to back them up. We didn’t know how, but we knew that God would be faithful to cover the checks.  We started home Saturday evening rejoicing over what we had seen at the camp, and waiting on God to provide.  Scottie had received several donations from the wonderful volunteers who came to give their love to the families, and we knew that somehow God would provide it all.  As Mike and I were traveling back to Taylorsville, we unexpectedly received a donation from a source that had no idea of our immediate need but felt led by God to give.  As we looked at the amount, we were overwhelmed at what God had done.  It was not only enough to pay for the remainder of the Pamlico camp, it was also enough to cover the remaining $500 left on the Craven camp.

Isn’t that just like God!!  He knew all along there would be provision for Pamlico if we would just follow Him there.

In Christ, Brenda

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

We pulled the ministry vehicle & Forgiven Ministry trailor into a parking space and visited the restrooms.  As Scottie and I came out of the building we saw Mike standing with a woman who was crying, sharing her heart with him.  As we walked closer to them we could hear her telling Mike that she and her husband were on their way to visit their son in a juvenile correctional facility in Ohio.  They had passed our vehicle on the interstate and saw the logo – “Forgiven Ministry – sharing Christ behind prison walls” on the side of the trailor.  She had written down the information off the trailor and had been blessed to be reminded that there are ministries working in the prisons.  She was shocked and thrilled when she saw that we had pulled into the rest area where they were.  Their son is a Christian young man who had made a very bad decision and will be incarcerated for 4 years.  They have to travel many miles to the facility and can only visit him once a month because of finances.  She and her husband poured their hearts out to us there in that rest area parking lot, telling us of their struggles and burden for their son.  We listened with our hearts breaking, knowing they have a long journey ahead with their son until he comes home.  We were able to pray with them, encourage them, and share a devotional with them.

As we watched their car pull away from the rest area, we all looked at each other with tears in our eyes.  We realized that if we had not had our two “detours” off the interstate we would not have been at that particular rest area at that time, and would have missed this family completely.  I am learning more and more that every moment of our lives is under God’s control and can be used for His glory and our good.  We now know that our GPS took us on a “divine detour” to be able to minister to this family in their time of great need.  Please pray for them as they visit their son, and pray for him that he would hold fast to God and, by His strength, become the man God purposed him to be.

This is truly and example of ….”and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

In Christ, Brenda

There were 16 beautiful women in the Marvelous Moms program on Friday, and each was eager to prepare for their children on Saturday.  Most were Christians, but several had not been with their children since they had received Christ.  Each asked us to pray that their children would be excited to met their “new moms” and that Saturday would be a new beginning for their families.

There was one mom who did pray to receive Christ on Friday, and came to me after she had prayed telling me how God had brought her there.  She was supposed to have been transferred the week before, but her paperwork had been misplaced and she was unable to move.  Also, her cousin had recently gotten in contact with her and had begun witnessing to her by mail.  I was thrilled to hear her say she knew that God has been using all these things to bring her to this “divine appointment” with Him.

Saturday was the answer to prayer for so many of those moms when we saw at least 10 children receive Christ and all the families starting new relationships or strengthening existing ones.  As the moms let their children go at the end of the day they all had a renewed determination to continue building these relationships and looking forward to the day they will be permanently reunited with their families.

As we read in our Bible Study on Friday, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22 & 23.  Please pray with us that these ladies will continue to renew their strength every morning through Christ, and continue to build on the foundation that God laid on Saturday.

In Christ, Brenda

I want to personally thank the volunteers and financial supporters for helping make this ministry possible.  We will never know until Eternity the full impact of what God is doing through your loving work.

Mark 4:26 – 29