This is the fifty-second update for the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund for the Lake Pontchartrain North Shore. This includes the Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Slidell, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

This is another weekly update from Pastor Sprague concerning the ministry of Trinity Evangelical Free Church of Covington, LA and hurricane relief.

“Signs and Wonders

“And they were continually devoting themselves to …prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” Acts 2:42-43

In Henry Blackaby’s book Experiencing God his mantra is, “Find where God is working and join Him there.” We are trying to do that and His fingerprints are everywhere.

1. This week a team from Pennsylvania was given the assignment of helping a woman named Georgia. They had a sizable job considering the devastation of Katrina on this woman’s property. They diligently cleared trees and debris, but were stopped by an enormous uprooted stump that they were unable to remove with chainsaws.

While returning to work on Georgia’s house on the 2nd day, they got delayed by a raised drawbridge as they were crossing over Lake Ponchartrain. Waiting three cars in front of them was a man with a “Bobcat.” Could that be God’s answer? Was this a divine appointment on the middle of the Causeway? Was this attempt foolishness or faith? Who would know unless someone stepped out in faith. A man got out of their vehicle and went up and knocked on this man’s window, told them their dilemma, and asked for help. A few hours later he showed up at Georgia’s house. At the sight of the size of the stump he told the team that it was impossible to pull up the stump. The team knew this was a God-thing and they said, “You pull and we will pray this humongous stump out.” He pulled with the Bobcat and it came right out. Yeah God! A FEMA truck was right down the street hauling away debris. The team raced down the street and said, “We prayed for you and here you are.” FEMA came and took all of the debris away from in front of her home. Georgia was presented with a clean yard.

Good story? … The best is yet to come. The team got to know and love Georgia. They told her about their friend, Jesus. She trusted Christ for her sins. She had been searching for some time. I got to meet her Wednesday as she attended the service. Yeah God!

2. On Wednesday night another guest attended. I spoke on the topic of “Why Heaven is Better” from Philippians 1:21. After the meeting one of the teams got to talking to their guest (they had worked at her home) and she found salvation! Transformed lives are God’s greatest signs and wonders. Yeah God!

3. A few weeks back, my wife Donna and son, Jonathan, gutted a home in Abita Springs. The owner of the home has now become Donna’s friend, and she is attending Trinity Church regularly. In fact, Wednesday night her son, and uncle, who hasn’t been to church in ages, came to the service. The uncle said he’d be back. Yeah God!

4. I met with the children’s pastor from Hershey Evangelical Free Church this morning. He told about praying for Trinity and the community here and asked God what he could uniquely do to assist in God’s work.

Immediately after praying that prayer, he received an e-mail from Mark Lewis, our Compassion director, asking if he could help Trinity with VBS this year since Trinity lost their Children’s Director. Bingo! He had his answer, and we met today to start the coordination of his volunteers with those of Trinity.

5. These stories could go on and on. They don’t end. Last night I shared with the teams how in Exodus 17 Joshua was sent into the valley to fight the Amalakites while Moses went to the hilltop to lift his arms in prayer to God. While his arms were lifted high, Israel prevailed, but when his arms drooped, the enemy made inroads. You know the story how Aaron and Hur came alongside of Moses to keep his arms raised and there was great victory. At the end of the meeting a pastor brought 8 men forward and raised my arms and prayed for me and Trinity. Amazing, yet this is what is happening at Trinity Church.

At times our arms are very tired, yet people from all over the country are praying for us, sending resources and teams. Because of all of you, and the power of God, we are prevailing in the work.

Here are some stats on the groups we have scheduled over the past few months:

Castle Rock
• Teams: 51
• Completed Work Requests: 286
• Outstanding Work Requests: 35
• Volunteers: 785
• Work Hours: 23,230

Trinity Church

• Teams: 153
• Completed Work Requests: 834
• Outstanding Work Requests: 432
• Volunteers: 1,898
• Work hours: 72,810

Sorry I haven’t written in the last 2 weeks, but this only leads to one more story. A few weeks back, Donna and I were strong in spirit but weary in body. We went for a walk and commented that it would be helpful if we could get a little break. When we got back to the house, I checked my e-mail. A new friend from a Chinese Bible Church outside of San Francisco asked if we could come and speak at their 4 services and if possible stay a few days for a little R&R. We took Pastor Steve up on his kind offer and met his wonderful church family. They allowed us to see the area and behold the beauty of God’s creation in that area of the country. We returned refreshed, rejuvenated, and thankful. We even look forward to teams of Chinese believers join with us in the work of New Orleans. God is good.

Betting the Farm on God,

Pastor Michael Sprague

P.S. Trinity’s new DVD is available throughTrinity Church Online as well as a DVD from the EFCA Compassion Ministries. E-mail me if you would like a copy. (2/11/06 11:12 PM CST)”

The ministry of Trinity Church continues. The need is great, and workers are few. Please pray for Pastor Sprague and Compassion Ministries as they co-ordinate teams and donated supplies to rebuild lives on the Gulf Coast.

In order to help those who need it so desperately, please consider a contribution to the combined efforts of this blog and Grace Community Chapel of St. Peters, MO, in raising money and volunteers for ministry teams to be sent to Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Covington, LA, to be distributed locally to the Lake Pontchartrain North Shore and New Orleans area. You will find detailed donation information by clicking here.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 12th, 2006 at 6:40 am and is filed under Katrina North Shore Relief. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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