Faith Steps Spring Newsletter
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Hello to all my Friends, Family, and Prayer Partners, I have many exciting things to share with you and in an effort to keep it concise, I’ll share it by topics.
Faith Steps ~ January: The Beginning of 2013
The New Year got off to a very slow start and I had to discipline myself once again, to wait on the Lord and be patient. We all know these two things are hard for me. I ended 2012 with $83 in the Faith Steps bank account. That was certainly fine, yet I knew that there were business expenses facing me with the beginning of a new year. As you all know, I do not carry out this ministry to achieve a large bank account, but at the same time, ministry of any type has its financial cost. Having given up my post teaching a group of dear women in my churches Sunday School, I had been given a gift card to Barnes and Noble. I purchased a calendar for 2013 so I could schedule all my events and speaking engagements. As I used it all year, I would remember to pray for these women. One problem, there were no speaking engagements to record. At least there was plenty of time to pray! J A dear sister in Christ asked me one Sunday how Faith Steps was going and I shared with her my concerns. She agreed to pray and was very encouraging. Don’t you just love how God brings encourager’s along our path?
The Faith Steps Valentine Event
Since I would be traveling to DE to help my sister through surgery, I held the event at the end of January. This is the annual fundraising event I host to support the two ministries in Africa. We raise monies for Raised Hands for Africa where we help support the Urunkundo Orphanage for children in Rwanda. Also, Laban Ministries in The Dominican Republic of Congo where we help support a Women’s Literacy Program, and a very large evangelism ministry.
This evening event had 125 women in attendance and what an enormous blessing of the Holy Spirit being poured out throughout our time together. Of course we had the usual dinner and comedy but more importantly, we saw filmed documentaries on each of these ministries during this last year. My goodness, to look into the eyes of these precious Rwandan children, see their joy in Christ Jesus, and their thanksgiving for the playground we helped to build for them was overwhelming! Then viewing the ride into the bush, and the site in Congo, while hearing the testimony of women who have learned to read and write as they studied the Bible, was pure joy for us! The evangelism ministry throughout this year there has brought over 8,000 people to Christ!
All this to say, when we offered the opportunity to pour into these ministries, God spoke into hearts, and we had a great harvest for them. We raised nearly $1,l00.00 that evening! To God be all the glory!
February, 2013
How grateful I am that God, just as He always does, met every need to carry out His will. I continued to trust that at some point God would bring to me opportunities to speak, and minister for Him. I turned my focus to other things that He had already been pouring into my heart and expressing through my writing. I had begun a Bible study that I hope to have completed sometime this summer. I continued to pray, yet I definitely felt there was a spiritual battle being waged. This battle continued throughout the month, with Ray and I both succumbing to upper respiratory infections. I am thankful to say now, we almost through it. Wasn’t it a good thing that I had no speaking engagements? J
With the closing of February, there were several phone calls asking for my availability to lead in various events. Oh, how grateful I am to God for allowing the door to open for this ministry.
March, 2013
As of now, I will be speaking at Atlantic Shores Baptist Church with their senior adults, The Opals on March 16th at 11:30 am. This is a covered dish luncheon and I have been directed to invite anyone who would like to attend to feel welcome to come. Bring your covered dish and let me know if you can attend so I can be sure they have enough seating ready for everyone. Comedy? OH YES!
Because Easter is in March this year, Faith Steps will hold our annual Maundy Thursday dinner, comedy, and then worship with candlelight communion on Thursday, March 28th. Please see this attached flyer to get all the details. This event fills quickly and is the most popular one of the year so please don’t delay! In memory of my dear friend and “Mercy Sister,” Phyllis Keeling, we will honor cancer survivor’s, and give support to two Relay for Life Teams during the dinner. Following the comedy, we will go to the church worship center for our Easter Service.
Future Events:
April ~
On April 13th, I will be speaking at the Women’s Tea at Haygood United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach. I have led these ladies in the past, and they are such a fun group to be with.
August ~
We will host the 10th Anniversary of Faith Steps Celebration on Saturday, August 24th at 2-4pm, Great Bridge Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA.
September ~
On September 20-21, I will lead the Women’s Retreat for First Baptist Church Ringgold, GA.
Please pray for me as I prepare for the events and that God through the Holy Spirit will allow me to be at each of them. I ask for prayer for these churches as they prepare and for each person that will be attending.
Please also pray for my heart to be pure and holy before my Lord. Pray that the enemy will have no ground in my thoughts and that my confidence will be mighty in God’s strength and power.
Please pray for me as I discipline myself daily to continue to write and complete this future Bible Study. This study is something God has been pouring into my heart for some time now. I have such a burden for believers, specifically women to rise up and be the strong vessel God has created us to be. Oh, dear Jesus, let it begin in me!
God’s grace and love be abundant to each of you. Please let me know how I may pray for you. It’s such an honor and I take it very seriously. You need not worry. Only God shall hear about from me.
In Christ I live and walk, Pat Owens
