RABBONI...which is to say, Master

I would like to share a prayer request with you today. Dr. Brad Blake and his wife Jennifer are back here in the states from mission work they are doing in Nigeria. The picture to the left is a few years old. It was taken when they were leaving Nashville to go to Nigeria for the first time. The Blakes are looking for a new sponsor for their work. Both Brad and Jennifer are children of missionary parents, and are doing a wonderful work among the Muslims of northern Nigeria.

Raising support is always a trying ordeal. I can testify to the struggles involved. The Blakes are also facing another challenge that I would like to ask you to pray about. Jennifer is the daughter of Barry and Darlene Becker, two of the closest friends Barb and I have on this earth. Barry was an associate minister with me for 12 years in Hanover Pa, and is now the pulpit minister for the church there. At the time that I started studying the Bible with Barry and Darlene, back in the early 70’s, Darlene was pregnant with Jennifer. She was born just before they both obeyed the gospel. We have known Jennifer all of her life. The second prayer concern involves Jennifer’s mother Darlene. Darlene has begun to lose her short term memory. The doctors are baffled as to why, but it has become a great concern for all as you can imagine. What makes this situation even worse is that Barry and Darlene, for many years, have cared for their son who suffered a brain injury due to a car accident a number of years ago. Now Darlene is suffering from the same short term memory problem she has dealt with in their son for years. As you can imagine this has become a major task for Barry to deal with as well.

Brad and Jen have made a long term commitment to reaching the Muslim population of northern Nigeria. They have three children who were born in Nigeria. They love what they are doing, so please pray for their support needs, and pray for Darlene and the frustrating memory lose she is experiencing. Barry and Darlene are pictured in the center of the second picture, with Barb, Joyce and Joyce's girls Emily and Sydney.