| Newsletter: Thanksgiving 2009 | |
Prayer needed for Brenda's health.
For the last three years, we have seen many answers to prayer as Brenda's condition has become somewhat stable. As you may know, she has not been allowed to drive, do house work, cook, or get out much as we have worked to avoid any kind of injury or infection. Tuesday night, a fever and chills, with evidence of a serious infection took us to the emergency room with an admission to the hospital. She is receiving three antibiotics by IV for several days, and beginning a regimen of wound care. Thank you for many years of love and prayer. Her specific prayer need right now is for rest and a good response to the good care she is receiving. We are seeking that delicate balance between keeping her feet elevated to promote healing in her legs, while struggling to avoid pressure sores from immobility.
The people of Faith Baptist Church continue to feed and encourage us in many ways. Since we are uncertain of the length of this hospitalization, we will try to post daily reports on our website: www.johncvaughn.com. Thank you in advance for your understanding that it is hard to keep up with the e-mail and phone calls for now. Of course, if we have any spare time, we plan to spend as much of it as possible with our new grandson, Jack, born on October 14!
 Praise for Recent Ministry (Thank you for praying!)
October was the busiest month ever with much fruitful ministry. Souls were saved, Christians were encouraged. Many miles were flown. The month was closed with a trip to Puerto Rico where Becky spoke to a large group of young people, and then to the combined Adult Class in Sunday School. Her testimony was very moving and will be posted on the website. Brenda really wanted to make this trip with Becky and did so. We know that the fatigue of traveling no doubt weakened her and may have made her more susceptible to this infection, but being involved in Becky's ministry was such a thrill for her, she is telling everyone at the hospital about it. The young nurse who cared for her in the emergency room Tuesday night cared for our son Dan when we was brought in with fatal injuries just over a year ago.
Becky's new tract, "We All Have Special Needs" is being very well received. We traveled with Becky's manual wheelchair and an airport wheelchair for Brenda on the recent trip. When Becky thanked the man who had pushed her mother's wheelchair through the long concourses in Atlanta, giving him a tract, his response was typical. He stopped with the empty chair in the middle of the concourse, reading the tract while busy travelers hurried by.
In Puerto Rico, after I preached on Friday evening, a man named Ed came forward to receive Christ. As we prayed together, he did something very touching, unprompted by me. As he earnest prayed, giving his life to Christ, unprompted by me, he removed the diamond earrings from his ears and laid them on the prayer rail, leaving them there as he stood to give public testimony of his salvation. This simple act of repentance from a worldly life was a powerful example to those who are becoming far too comfortable in an increasingly worldly Christianity.
Thanksgiving
We are deeply indebted to so many of you for so many things. Our Thanksgiving focus is on family and friends who are helping us to survive, literally, and to keep serving the Lord. For example, in the recent FBFI conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I heard Dr. Kevin Schaal preach from Acts 22-23, on "How to Tell Your Story." I told him I couldn't wait to share that message with Brenda and Becky. I "overflowed" a very similar message in Puerto Rico that is now on our website. Dr. Schaal gets the credit and God gets the glory. Our ministry began in the late 1970s as the Lord gave us a story, which we continue to tell today. Your personal testimony of salvation is your story. Rejoice when trials come: God is giving you another story!
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