Hello Friends and Partners in Prayer,

I have truly been on an exciting and adventurous journey with our Lord since last I wrote to you. Buckle up prayer partners – we have MUCH to give thanks and praise to God as He has worked on our behalf!

I will try and update you from March through the present. It has been a busy, challenging and very rewarding three months. As you know, In March I had the wonderful invitation to open Angela Thomas at the women’s retreat hosted by my church, Great Bridge Baptist. I opened her with Christian comedy designed to bring laughter but spriritual inspiration as well. It was such a wonderful time and opened several doors of future ministry for Faith Steps. Out of that weekend event, I was invited to speak at a womens group for a local Methodist church, and also to speak at two different local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups. I truly enjoyed getting to use the motherhood comedy costume when I spoke to these mothers. It was well received in both places. Also out of the Angela Thomas exposure I have been invited to lead a womens retreat in Sept. of this year for a church in our area. They will be having their event at a retreat/conference center about an hour from our area. I praise our Lord for opening new doors of ministry.

The Faith Steps Easter gathering of women was a huge success. It was such a blessing to have 76 women in attendance. WOW – that is the largest Faith Steps hosted event that I have had yet! We enjoyed great fellowship, comedy, and a huge buffet of food. It was equally great to move into our church’s sancturary for a time of communion in preparation for Easter.

I led a women’s retreat for a Presbyterian church in Norfolk. We had nearly 40 women in attendance and had such sweet fellowship. They seem anxious to plan a fall retreat and have me return. That would be a great blessing for me.

As you know, I have been busy writing and preparing for the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Conference. God made a way for me to sell some of my books in order to raise the money to attend this event. I recently returned from this awesome and inspiring week. I have such exciting news to share with you. I met with the editor of On Mission magazine (the magazine published by the North American Mission Board). I did proposals for three different articles for that publication and the editor wanted all three! It is astounding to get picked up on all proposals. You only have 15 minutes to introduce yourself and hook them on an idea so I am blown away that God has opened such a wide door for me! How I praise Him! I received the confirmation this week with the due dates. The first article will be due July 15th so I am working on that one now. The other two will be due Nov. 15th. I was also able to meet with the acquisitions editor for Broadman & Holman (the first publishers of Beth Moore). God truly worked in encouraging me during this 15 minute session. I felt so small before such a huge personality in publishing and had prayed for courage to lay my work before him. After reading my synopsis and chapter outline for my book he used these words: “you have done a slam, bam, job on this. It is probably the best I have seen today.” TO GOD’S GLORY!!! Then he said, “unfortunately Broadman & Holman doesn’t publish autobiographical material.” Then he leaned back pensively, and while placing his hands on his forehead, he said, “I am wracking my brain trying to think who I should send you to.” He has referred me to the editor of another publishing group that does this type of work. This gentleman was at the conference but was booked and had to fly out a day early. He told me to contact him and tell him that he had sent me to him. I asked if I had permission to use his name and he said, “you most definetly do”. So, you know I need prayer for the next part of this adventure!

I also met with other editors and have leads on doing some devotionals for The Upper Room; the methodist magazine that is parallel to SBC’s Open Windows. I also have a lead on doing a submission to an upcoming book that Chicken Soup for the Soul is producing. So, as you can see the writer’s conference was a very worthwhile adventure.

These writing opportunities come at a good time as my speaking engagements slow down in the summer and I am more able to write at that time. Thank you for praying for me as I do the interviews and write the first article.

I am so happy to make available the new small gift book that I have produced. It is titled:
Knowing God…Is That Possible?
It is a 50 page 4×6 decorative gift book with journal pages and attached pen. It has a ribboned closure. This book explains in quick-read form all about knowing God, how to enter into relationship with Him, and what the blessings are for a child of the King. The cost is $12
Please be in prayer with me regarding the sale of these books. I print them and put them together myself so they have a very personal touch. Selling them in this way will raise the monies to eventually have them profesionally printed.

God has been so good to me in so many ways. I praise Him for all these answers to prayer and I know you will want to join that choir of praise. As I close let me also inform you of answered prayer for our family. Ray and I are both enjoying good health. Ray is entering the “arthritic knee” time of life but the docs are working with medications to bring him some relief. He has loss 40 lbs. and that only increases the goodness of his health. I am still at a 20 lb. weight loss so I laugh and say Ray got a better return on his money at Weight Watchers!

Kimberly was able to see my cardiologist and they are working on medication adjustments for her. He said that she does not have the cardio related problem like I have that accompanies the condition we have. They are going to run a stress test just to be sure. Pray for her as they find the exact medications to work for her. We are looking forward to her feeling better and us getting busy planning her wedding that will be sometime next spring.

Tim graduated from Longwood University in May and has been accepted to Virginia Tech’s Master’s program. He will be able to do the program completely on line. We are so excited for him in this. He will continue his job at Longwood University. He and Emalee moved into their new home and that was thrilling getting to be with them in their house. Ray and I are going there to house sit and take care of our grand-kitties while Tim takes Emalee on a business trip to California. Emalee continues to work on her Master’s and is enjoying the summer off from teaching all-day kindergarten.

Jonathan has been accepted back into Boyce Bible College for the fall. As of the end of June he will be debt-free and able to get back to completing his education. He is still working at the car dealership, made salesman of the month, and has won a contest that will enable him to go to Texas for nation-wide contest. Pray that he wins lots of money and can pay his college tuition in full!!!!

God bless each of you for walking through life with us. Thank you so very much for supporting my ministry and enabling me to walk in faith with our Lord. How lonely it would be if you were not in it with me. I thank God for you.

In Faith I Walk On,

Pat