Dear Caldwell,
“Prayer changes us.”
Among many other much-needed, healing words we heard in worship today, those from Rev. Betty Meadows touched many today. As one of our favorite gospel songs goes, we all are “standing in the need of prayer.”
There are so many prayers on so many topics we can think of, all prayers that our Creator hears. Prayer is both ministry for others and spiritual development for ourselves, and it is a topic that is already in the works for receiving more attention for us at Caldwell in the weeks and months to come.
NOW, however, I want to ask for your specific prayers for a specific situation. Holland and Arthur Pulley had planned to join the church today before worship. After attending for several weeks, they feel overjoyed to have found a church whose hospitality and mission speak to them in important ways.
Yesterday, Arthur’s 17-year old son, Alex, was admitted to the hospital for sudden and serious leg pain. He now has undergone one procedure and, today, is in a great deal of pain as doctors work hard to address his condition, which is potentially serious. This has come suddenly and I ask for you to pray for this family, whom 98% of you have yet to meet.
We can all imagine the fear and profound uncertainty they must be feeling. Prayers for God’s peace to surround them, for doctors’ skill and healing touch, for our Lord to go ahead and make a way forward for them even while remaining with them as an immediate source of comfort, are all appropriate … As are any prayers you wish to pray.
This is not to put their needs “ahead” of any others, but rather to call on our gracious God, who can”achieve more than we an ever ask or imagine,” in the words of scripture. It is to focus the grace we all felt in worship today on a family in need.
With gratitude, in Christ,
John