December 2008 News Update

Points to Ponder

Dr. R.L. Hammonds
Dr. R. L. Hammonds
President & CEO

Sometimes things just don’t work because they just won’t work for anyone else but you. God impregnates us with His vision and dream and it's hard to hand off a pregnancy to someone else. This takes a miracle in and of itself - only God can take the vision, dream and Spirit which He has given you and lay it upon another person's shoulders. This is what He so clearly does and what only He can do. We can speak to men's minds and lay things in their hands but only God can speak to their heart and lay things in their spirit. When we speak to those God has given to us to share the burden with us, it is imperative that we pray to God for His intervention and for His inspiration to come upon them. We need to be cautious only to speak the Word and Will of God because they must hear His voice within our voice in order to have the seed of His vision planted inside of them. Do God's work, select and accept those whom God gives you to lead. Never attempt to manipulate them with your own wisdom, rather hear from God and repeat it. They will either follow God or not, but let that be God's responsibility. You must lead and follow with a vision deep in your heart, firmly in your spirit.

May you be enriched by God's grace abundant upon you for the days to come. Have a wonderful Christmas and a dream fulfilling New Year!

USA NEWS

Church on the Rock North, Beaumont TX

Pastor Sam Walker
Church on the Rock North, Beaumont, TX

Since we expanded our facilities by finishing the new sanctuary back in June of this year, the church has continued to endeavor to expand God's kingdom as well. This fall brought many new faces and friends, as well as many opportunities to make a significant difference in our community. The fall festival was a tremendous success with hundreds of visitors from the surrounding neighborhoods. The prison and jail ministry continue to bear tremendous fruit with people being born again almost weekly.

Through our extension ministry called Angels of Destiny, we mailed over 6,000 small ceramic angels to terminally ill patients all over the nation. These simple gifts come with a prayer of blessing and a word of encouragement to those who need it the most.

As we look to the new year, our vision is to strengthen the local church with more opportunities for training, as well as make a larger and more significant impact on the world around us.

Cowboy Church on the Rock, Winnie, TX

Pastor Kendrick & Traci Miller
Cowboy Church on the Rock, Winnie, TX

On Saturday, November 8th, we had our first arena event since Hurricane Ike. The Winnie fairgrounds and arena was being used by recovery workers and those without housing. With a few remaining tents and campers out there, we were still able to have our event. We had a good turn-out with several first timers on horseback, as well as a number of the fairground campers in attendance. We were also blessed to have Harold and Diane Bourgeois, KE Resources Representatives, stop by.

In addition to having a monthly arena event, we are holding monthly trail rides at various places and reaching a different group of people. The name of the trail group is “Rock’N R Trail Riders”. The “R” represents Church on the Rock. We don't advertise the trail group as a "Church" function, but it doesn't take long for those attending to figure out that we are a little bit different and represent Christ. Most of the people that are coming to our events already attend church somewhere, but it never fails that while on the trail, someone will ride up beside me and want to talk and God gives me a chance to minister to them. God is good!

A praise report: The other day I went up to the hospital and visited a friend of mine that runs the ER. On my way in, a man stopped me and asked me if I was a Pastor. When he saw my work ID badge, he apologized for bothering me and turned away. I called after him and walked over to where he was and told him that I WAS a pastor and asked what I could do to help him. With tears in his eyes, he explained to me that his mother was in the Emergency Room and asked if I would come and pray for her and the family. She needed prayer and they needed God's help to make decisions they knew were coming. She was on a ventilator, having seizures and on hospice. I happily did as he asked and then made sure that they were all saved. He told me as I was leaving the room, that when he saw me walk in, there was a glow around me and he knew that God had sent me. Isn't that amazing?

Now I know that there is no glow around me, but God cared enough about this family's needs that He let him see a glow so His Spirit could be poured through me. He has since called me and told me again how much he appreciated me being there for them and that they had moved his mom to ICU. We ARE making a difference and God cares enough about his people that He would stop me, in the midst of my business, to care for one of His sheep.... God is truly good!

Our next event is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008.

Church on the Rock, Sour Lake, TX

Pastor Randy & Emmie Miller
Church on the Rock, Sour Lake, TX

COTR Sour Lake is doing well! God has added a number of families to our church this past year. We are growing strong and looking forward to a great new year!

International News

Thailand & Southeast Asia

Ralph & Annie Dryden
Church Planting & Ministry

We have just come through a difficult time in Thailand. Many demonstrators, both pro and against the government, surrounded the international airport in Bangkok. As a result, thousands of tourists were stranded and air travel was shut down for a considerable length of time. Air travel finally resumed last week. Please continue to pray for the peace of Thailand. We are seeing God move in miraculous and powerful ways in our area and around the country.

Other International News

Pastor Tej Rokka began the long journey back home to Nepal. For the last two months, he has been in the USA and Costa Rica training other international pastor-leaders, visiting churches, and raising support for the SARA Children's Home in Kathmandu and his other church planting outreaches.

Kyle Trahan has successfully obtained a longer term visa and has returned to missions ministry in Columbia, South America. He reports that seven people have been born again. He has also received reports that a lady that he prayed for before he left has been completely healed!