January 31 - Praises & Prayer Requests

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord - Cindy's step-mom, Vernie has gone home to be with the Lord

- Praise the Lord - The ladies who went to England for the women's conference were excited by the fellowship and renewed in heart as they heard that they may have Jesus seen in them.

- Praise the Lord - There was a wonderful monthly reunion at Maghaberry Prison as the guys inside ministered the love of Jesus to each other in a very real way

- Praise the Lord - Out of the I4J meetings has come a regular meeting for prayer with fellow pastors in town!

Please pray for the following with us:

- Please pray for Cindy's comfort over the death of her step mom, Vernie. She is holding up very well, but it is still very saddening in heart.

- Pray for Gail who is not in a good place spiritually at this time

- Please pray for Linsey to desire fellowship

- Please pray with us for the Lord to show us our part to play in the Ireland4Jesus outreach coming early this summer to Ballymena. We are seeking to hear the Lord's voice to know His will as a church and as individuals who will be in leadership roles.

- Continue to pray for Cindy as she prepares as leader of a cross-community 3-Day weekend to be held in March. She wants to be sensitive to the Lord's direction and see Him work in the lives of the ladies who will be attending. Also for peace and unity to be with the team and for more attendees to apply.

- We are still waiting to receive our Permanent Residency documentation to come in the post - it will be so nice to have this in hand!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support   God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston

Newsletter - December 2016 / January 2017

January 24 - Praises & Prayer Requests

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord - Linda had a cancerous growth removed from her hand and they were able to get it all. It was caught early so we can definitely give thanks for that!!!!

- Praise the Lord - Noleen has turned her heartache over to the Lord and has been restored with amazing hope and faith - the Lord is so faithful to answer our prayers, thank you!

- Praise the Lord - We had a great turn out for the new "Digging Deeper" series on Spiritual Warfare. We actually have to order 5 more books!! The Lord is moving mightily in Northern Ireland!

- Praise the Lord - Sandra is much improved from the pain in her knees and back

Please pray for the following with us:

- Please pray for Cindy's step mom, Vernie. She is in stage 4 COPD and is now in the last stages of hospice care. We are thankful that she knows Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. Please pray for Cindy and the family around her at this time.
(We are not able to travel to the States as our passports are still in London with our permanent residency applications, we're trusting the Lord for His peace and comfort)

- Pray for Jan, Heather, Jo Anne and Cindy as they will be flying to England to attend the UK Calvary Women's Retreat this weekend, Jan 27-29. Cheryl Brodersen is the guest speaker, so please also pray for her and also the team organizing the weekend.

- Please pray for Cindy as she prepares as leader of a cross-community 3-Day weekend to be held in March. She wants to be sensitive to the Lord's direction and see Him work in the lives of the ladies who will be attending. Also for peace and unity to be with the team.

- Please pray for Delvin's family as they mourn his passing away on New Years day. We are grateful to hear that he was a believer, so we rejoice that he is home with Jesus.

- Please pray with us for the Lord to show us our part to play in the Ireland4Jesus outreach coming early this summer to Ballymena. We are seeking to hear the Lord's voice to know His will as a church and as individuals who will be in leadership roles. - Praise the Lord, out of these meetings is coming a regular meeting for prayer with fellow pastors in town!

- Please pray for Pamela's father, Nick in America. He has stage 4 cancer and is going though treatment

- We are still waiting to receive our Permanent Residency documentation to come in the post - it will be so nice to have this in hand!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support   God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston

January 18 Praises & Prayer Requests

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord - Christine is recovering well from the viral meningitis

- Praise the Lord - We had the first monthly reunion group meetings in the Ballymena area for Tres Dias

- Praise the Lord - There are three couples who are joining our Shepherds Heart missionary support team at Refuge.

- Praise the Lord - A new film series began at Mooreland Close for the monthly DVD night that was well received. This year will be the seventh that we have been doing this.

Please pray for the following with us:

 - Please pray for Cindy as she prepares as leader of a cross-community 3-Day weekend to be held in March. She wants to be sensitive to the Lord's direction and see Him work in the lives of the ladies who will be attending. Also for peace and unity to be with the team.

- Please pray with us for the Lord to show us our part to play in the Ireland4Jesus outreach coming early this summer. We are seeking to hear the Lord's voice to know His will as a church and as individuals who will be in leadership roles.

- N suffered a personal heartache that has sent her into depression. She needs the Lord's help to forgive the person.

- Pray for Christine (the one who had viral meningitis) for her knee that was injured in an attack last July may have further damage that was not able to detected at the first.

- Sandra has had a health set-back caused by the sarcoidosis causing severe pain in her knees and lower back so she can barely walk.

- Pray for A who wants to turn his life around and not return to prison when he is released in six months. The Lord is moving in his life and he is drawing closer to following Him

- We are still waiting to receive our Permanent Residency documentation to come in the post - it will be so nice to have this in hand!

Thank you for your faithful prayer support   
God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston

January 3 - Praises & Prayer Requests

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord - The monthly reunion for the prison ministry Rick was part of was well attended and a good success 
- Praise the Lord - We had a great meeting with two of our young adults who had gone to college, B and R, and a close and accepting relationship is continuing

- Praise the Lord -  Granny Pearl has a place in a care home now and is settling in well. It was the one that the family was hoping for, but there is still tension with the daughters. Pray for peace all around.

- Praise the Lord - Ruth has begun training for her new job which should start next week. She will now be able to join us regularly for Sunday worship!

Please pray for the following with us:

- Pray for Aidan who wants to turn his life around and not return to prison when he is released in six months. The Lord is moving in his life and he is drawing closer to following Him

- Please pray with us for the serious spiritual attack we are under. The enemy is working hard to bring about discouragement and apathy. I have come under personal attack , in particular with evil dreams and fears.

- Pray for Christine who is in hospital with viral meningitis

- Stephen's Aunt Isabel, who suffered a major stroke, has no movement on her left side yet, but she has had slow, steady progress and has been transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. Her speech has returned to normal and she is breathing on her own now. Be praying for her to regain the ability to swallow.

- We are still waiting to receive our Permanent Residency documentation to come in the post - it will be so nice to have this in hand!
- Pray for our friend Jo Anne who just received a diagnosis of bladder leiomyoma (a benign tumor) and is scheduled for an operation in February for it. She will have at least a three week long recovery period. We also pray that there will not be any interference with her medication for M.S
- We are praying for our friend Debbie in California who has had a possible return of cancer detected on her esophagus, in the area where her operation was performed.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support   God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston

December 13 Praises & Prayer Requests

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord - A major crusade is coming to Ireland next year with the first stop being Ballymena. We are able to be involved and part of the planning in the early stages of it. 
- Praise the Lord - The rest we received and loving hospitality from our friends the Macfarlane's refreshed us in body and soul

- Praise the Lord - I have been able to attend each inter-faith advent service that has met once a week in various churches in Ballymena and will be able to go to the final one this week with Cindy

- Praise the Lord - The church had a good time of bonding while we were together at a Christmas-themed afternoon tea at a local hotel

Please pray for the following with us:

- Pray for several people who are struggling with serious bouts of depression.  

- Pray for the many people around us who are facing loneliness and depression at these holiday times. It can be a difficult time of the year

- Pray for our friend Stephen's Aunt Isabel who suffered a major stroke, she has limited movement on her left side. She has had the feeding tube removed now and been transferred to a rehabilitation hospital.

- Please pray for Leo's mom, who has dementia, for her salvation. Specifically pray that they can somehow share the gospel with her in a way that her mind can understand to accept the Lord.
- Pray for Ashley in California who is suffering with chronic back pain from two degenerative discs in her lower back.
- We are still waiting to receive our Permanent Residency documentation to come in the post - it will be so nice to have this in hand! 
- Pray that the holidays will afford open doors to witness the wonder of God our Saviour.
- Please pray for G, who is struggling with a confusion about her faith and is wondering where she should fellowship, is facing financial hardships and concerns for her children. 

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

December 7 Praises & Prayer Requests

Praise Reports:

- Praise the Lord - We had a great outing with the church into Belfast - and were able to meet up with Trisha and Denise from CC Dublin who have visited us before.
- Praise the Lord - We are currently having a wee break at our dear friends Stephen & Lorraine's home - The S&L Retreat!

- Praise the Lord - Heather is continuing to get better and be relieved from ME - thank the Lord Jesus!

- Praise the Lord - Linsey is finding it much easier with her children.

Please pray for the following with us:
- Pray for several people who are struggling with serious cases of depression.  

- Pray for our friend Stephen's Aunt Isabel who suffered a major stroke, she has no movement on her left side, has a feeding tube and is on oxygen to help her breath. 

- Please pray for Leo's mom's salvation. Specifically pray that they can somehow share the gospel with her in a way her mind can understand/accept the Lord.

- Pray for Ashley in California who is suffering with chronic back pain from two degenerative discs in her lower back.

- We are still waiting for our receive our Permanent Residency documentation to come in the post - it will be so nice to have this in hand!

- Pray that the holidays will afford open doors to witness the wonder of God our Saviour.

- Please pray for Gail, who is struggling with a confusion about her faith and is wondering where she should fellowship, is facing financial hardships and concerns for her children. 

- Please continue praying that the unity of the body of Christ in Ballymena will continue to grow as we work together on outreach and other projects, breaking down denominational barriers.and living a witness of working together without walls. Exciting times!

 

Thank you for your faithful prayer support   God bless you,

Rick & Cindy Johnston