Dear Prayer Partner,

Your prayers are our most important tools in changing kids' lives.  Romans 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  You are our prayer warriors on the front line for the Oblong Children's Christian Home.  Please don't grow weary in well doing.  We need you praying for the Home.

Answered prayers from last letter (prayer request in red; answer in blue)

Pray specifically that Sara, Emilie, Cordell, Robert, and Nate will make progress.  Nate and Robert returned home without fully achieving their goals.  We see glimmers of hope with Sara and Emilie.  Cordell continues to be resistant to the message of Christ.

Please pray that the right kids will be placed in our homes at the right time.  We have been protected from the wrong kids entering the program and destroying the work that is being done.  Two new kids, Austin and Denver, have entered the program and seem to be making good progress.  Since we still have openings, please continue to pray for the right kids at the right time. 

Please pray for the kids and staff as they make the transition back to school.  The young people are off to a great start--reading more, working harder in Bible class, having better attitudes about school.  Our on-campus high school teacher was spending a lot of time getting the library ready.  I warned her, "Remember most of the students are boys--they won't read."  (I had forgotten that you were praying for them.)  I was wrong about boys not reading.  They have really gotten excited about reading Christian novels.  The whole class is now reading The Shack.

Current Prayer Needs

1.  Please continue to keep Sara, Emilie, and Cordell in your prayers.  Also pray for Jaysun's salvation as he seems very close to making this decision.  Pray that God will give the staff the love and the understanding to meet Sara, Emilie, and Cordell's needs and that these young people will have hearts willing to change.

2.  Please pray God would give the Strategic Planning Committee wisdom and special guidance.  Our Strategic Planning Committee has been working for many months to discern God's will for the furture direction of the Home.  They are concluding their work and making recommendations to the Board.

3.  Please pray that God will bring us additional Board members.  Additional Board members are needed who will use their God-given gifts and expertise for the benefit of the Home.  "The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few.  Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers."

4.  Please continue to pray that God will bring the right kids at the right time to the Children's Home.  The homes are not yet full, and we want to serve more kids.

In Christian Love,

Arvin L. Moden

Administrator