April 28 Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

Here are praise reports and prayer requests for this week.  

Praise Reports:

 - Praise the Lord: The Lord helped us to get a replacement car!

 

- Praise the Lord: Celebrate Recovery continues to be a blessing. Cindy taught a lesson on 'Gratefulness' that sparked meaningful discussion.

- Praise the Lord:  For God is in total control of our lives - nothing catches Him by surprize and "in Him all things 'are kept from unravelling'" (Col 1:17) 

- Praise the Lord: The Lord is working confidence and growth in our people (at church) as seen by two ladies who prayed publicly for the first time at the BHOP prayer retreat this weekend, which went very well, by the way.

 

Thank you for praying for the following with us:

- Pray for Pastor Leo and Cheryl Rose of Inverness Bible Fellowship (our visa sponsor). They just received word this afternoon that their appeal of the government's decision to not allow them to remain in the UK was denied. They have 14 days to file a 2nd appeal in an upper court, but it would require £15-£30k ($25-$45k) which they do not have. If they do not file within 14 days from today, they have been informed that they would likely be deported within the next 30-60 days.

- Inverness Bible Fellowship (IBF) is the actual sponsor of the visas. Pray that they will be able to continue to exist as a church and be able to retain their visa sponsor license and continue and even grow in fellowship together in Inverness through these pending changes.

- Pray that the recent audit of IBF will be acceptable to the Home Office. "Immigration" is a political hot button issue and the officials are looking for any excuse to void sponsorships.

- Pray for the future direction Celebrate Recovery (CR) in Ballymena as it will be coming to an end this May. We want to continue our involvement with a recovery ministry and we've been talking with some people in other churches about continuing the program. Please pray for the Lord to direct us and open doors to make a way, showing His will.

 

- Pray that church members keep growing in confidence to be able to witness for the Lord.

- Women's study will begin a 4-week study through the book of Philippians to take them up to summer. There has been even more interest from the community of ladies wanting to participate in the studies. Praise the Lord!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support

God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston

 

Apil 21 Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Here are praise reports and prayer requests for this week.  

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord: The engine of our car blew as Rick was on his way to Maghaberry Prison. The car is not worth repairing, but the Lord has already lead us to a replacement.

 

- Praise the Lord: For Celebrate Recovery starting back up after a break for Easter. Rick taught a lesson on 'Grace' that was well received.

- Praise the Lord:  For our Shepherd's Heart missionary support team's faithfulness and persistence to help care for our needs. 

- Praise the Lord: Tim, a young man at church announced his engagement to Hazel. We pray the Lord's blessing on the godly young couple

Thank you for praying for the following with us: 

 

- Pray for the finances to be available and work out smoothly to purchase the car we'll need to get.

- Pray for Celebrate Recovery (CR) in Ballymena as it will be coming to an end this May. We'd like to see our involvement with a recovery ministry continue and we've been talking with some people in other churches about continuing the program. Please pray for the Lord to open doors and make a way if that is His will. 

- Our heart goes out toward the broken and outcast, so pray that the Lord will lead us into what He has for the future as we wish to continue to work with those in recovery.

- Pray that the audit our visa sponsor's had last week will be acceptable to the Home Office. "Immigration" is a political hot button issue and the officials are looking for any excuse to void sponsorships.

-  We will be hosting the annual BHOP prayer retreat this Saturday. We pray that the Lord will bring a spirit of unity and His presence will bind us together as we seek the Lord's blessing on the Ballymena area.

- Women's study has finished Kay Smith's book, Pleasing God. They will begin a 4-week study through the book of Philippians to take them up to summer. There has been even more interest from the community of ladies wanting to participate in the studies. Praise the Lord!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support,
Blessings,
Rick and Cindy Johnston

April 14 Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

 Here are praise reports and prayer requests for this week.  

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord: for the wonderful visit we had from three girls on break from CC Bible college in Waterford. It's good to have a chance to show hospitality - they really appreciated it - and we were very impressed by the spiritual maturity they had.

- Praise the Lord: For the youth outing into Belfast that we had Saturday. Everyone but one lad who was sick made it and it was a great time of fellowship

- Praise the Lord:  For the special way the Lord moved during our fellowship at church on Sunday.

- Praise the Lord: Trisha got baptised Sunday at Refuge, CCHB.  We're very proud of our "daughter" and her witness and are so pleased with her walk in the Lord.

Thank you for praying for the following with us:

- The sponsors of our visa had a scheduled audit from the Immigration officials today that was very gruelling for Leo Rose. Pray that all will be acceptable to the Home Office.

-  We will be hosting the 3rd annual BHOP prayer retreat in a week from Saturday. We pray that the Lord will bring a spirit of unity and His presence bind us together as one.

-  Please pray for "Uncle Bill" whose 2-year old child died suddenly last year. His already weak faith took a major hit and he is not walking with the Lord at the present.

- Keep praying for two of our youth: B. who is struggling with her identity in Christ and K. who is doubting her salvation. I must stress how critical the situation is for their spiritual lives!

- Women's study as they finish Kay Smith's book, Pleasing God  this Thursday.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support

God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston

April 7 - Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Here are praise reports and prayer requests for this week.  

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord: Several from the church joined in with the Easter sunrise service at the foot of Mt Slemish. A glorious start to the day!

 

- Praise the Lord: For the annual walk of witness in Ballymena that Rick was able to participate in. It is a cross-community procession in Ballymena held on Good Friday every year. About 40-50 people took part

- Praise the Lord: For the wonderful day of fellowship we had on Easter Sunday.

- Praise the Lord: Trisha will be getting baptised April 12 at Refuge, CCHB.  We're praising the Lord for His faithfulness in her walk with Him.

Thank you for praying for the following with us: 

- Pray that the three girls on break from the Bible College in Waterford, Ireland, who are staying with us this week, will have an enriching time whilst in Northern Ireland and it will be a spiritual as well as cultural benefit to them.

- One of the girl's uncle needs prayer. Please pray for Bill whose 2-year old child died suddenly last year. His already weak faith took a major hit and he is not walking with the Lord at the present.

- Pray for Cindy and myself that we will be strengthened by the God of all comfort this week as we face the one year anniversary of our son Daniel's death this Saturday

- Pray that we will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit so he will show us what He wants us to do...and that whenever CBV meets, the presence and power of the Lord will be experienced and that the Holy Spirit will also move in and through the worship

- Pray that church members will grow in confidence in order for them to be comfortable enough to witness to their family and neighbours as well as invite them to join us for church. 

- Please pray for Jo Anne, a believer, who has gotten a temporary part time job, though she would prefer to have a permanent part time position, will keep her eyes upon the Lord. She started a new medicine on Friday to help her M.S. not relapse, but it will take a while for it to show effect so we pray that it will work.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support,

Blessings,

Rick and Cindy Johnston

April 1 Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Here are praise reports and prayer requests for this week.  

Praise Reports:

-Praise the Lord: We have received our visas in this past week!

-Praise the Lord: Cindy has gotten her police check application filled out and submitted for Kairos women's prison ministry

 

-Praise the Lord: For a great Easter tea with the folks at Mooreland Close. 

 

- Praise the Lord: Application for joining Calvary Chapel Association has been filled out and has been forwarded for submission. 

 

- Praise the Lord: Trisha will be getting baptised April 12 at Refuge, CCHB.  We're praising the Lord for His faithfulness in her walk with Him.

Thank you for praying for the following with us:

- Pray that the three girls on break from the Bible College in Waterford Ireland, who will be staying with us next week, will have an enriching time whilst in Northern Ireland and their time will be a spiritual as well as cultural benefit to them.

- Pray that church members will grow in confidence in order for them to be comfortable enough to witness to their family and neighbours as well as invite them to join us for church. 

- Please pray for Jo Anne, a believer, who has gotten a temporary part time job, though she would prefer to have a permanent part time position, will keep her eyes upon the Lord. She will be getting a new medicine, but is still feeling the effects of M.S.. 

- Pray for Roy, a resident at Maghaberry Prison, that the Holy Spirit will get through to his heart so he can believe in the Lord's transforming power for his life; the new life that only faith can bring about.

- Keep praying for two of our youth: B. who is struggling with her identity in Christ and K. who is doubting her salvation. I must stress how critical the situation is for their spiritual lives!

Have a blessed Easter!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support

God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston