March News

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Good Morning Friends and Prayer Partners, What a busy time this is for Faith Steps! Because we, (Ray and I), will soon end our ministry at Great Bridge Baptist Church, and begin to follow our new path of ministry, I wanted to send you an update. There are so many good things happening and I pray your hearts will be blessed by hearing about it all.

Heavenly Helpers ~ This is the new division of Faith Steps. Our last Sunday at Great Bridge Baptist will be March 23rd, and with Ray’s retirement, he has joined up with the work of Faith Steps. Together we will be ministering as Heavenly Helpers in churches that have limited resources and staff. As many of you know, we hosted a Ministry Launch in February. This was an exciting time of sharing how God is leading us in this endeavor. It’s something we had always dreamed of doing in our retirement. I asked for prayer for The Bridge Network of Churches Ministry Fair. What a great day that was for us! We met so many pastor’s in need of our ministry. We had 10 pastor’s signing up for future contact and ministry. We also had two who believed so much in what we were doing, that while they didn’t personally need our help, they signed on to be volunteers! Just this week, Ray met with a pastor on the peninsula who wants us to come to his church and help them know how to establish a senior adult ministry. God is amazing us with opportunities! We thank Him and praise Him for the gifts given to Faith Steps to support the launching of this new endeavor. Everything we have needed, God is providing!

Faith Steps ~ I am so pleased to let you know that a wonderful door of ministry has opened in an area where I have not ever been invited to speak, lead, and minister. I will be leading a Women’s Rally on Sunday, April 27th in the western branch of Suffolk. There will be 10 churches invited to this event with prayers that 200-250 will attend. How I praise God for this open door and the possibility of getting into other churches in the future. Please pray with me for this event and ask God to give us a full house.

LIVE ~ I am nearing completion of this Bible study. I am looking forward to soon promoting it. LIVE is an acrostic for Love, Integrity, Vision, and Excellence. I am so thankful for your prayers as I complete this work and allow God to send it out.

Laban Ministries International ~ We continue to collect new and gently used jewelry items: pierced earrings, necklaces, bracelets. We will receive these through March 31st. They will be given to the ladies graduating from the Laban Women’s Literacy School. I have wonderful news to share with you about their new churches. “Nine months ago, we planted a new church in the village of Nkara, about 3 miles away, and this past Sunday, the attendance was over 900. The political agenda offered by the other church in this village had left its attenders weary and hungry for the Word of God now preach and taught by the Pastors Isaac and Mupia in the new palm-frond structure. The Nkara church along with our own campus church, a new church at Longo, as well as the one at Ntshiangobo are drawing the young and the older to services worth attending.” How we praise God for the Holy Spirit drawing these people to the truth! Please continue to pray as we know with certainty, this is not an easy area for the gospel to spread.

Raised Hands for Africa Ministries ~ We are currently raising money to complete the playground project for the children of Rwanda. We will need nearly $800 for a slide and a see-saw. What a joy it is for me to look at the Raised Hands for Africa Facebook page and see the pictures of these children playing on the playground we have been a part of establishing! Take the time to view their page and let yourself be blessed as well.

So much has been shared here and I thank you for taking the time to read it all. I ask even now as I write, for God to pour out his love and grace over your life and families. I ask Him to empower us to do even more than we have spoken about in these words written. Let’s together, give Him all the glory! Please continue to keep in touch with us. We will remain living in Chesapeake and look forward to continuing to be a part of your lives. Always share your need for prayer as well.

Servants together, Pat & Ray Owens

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Pat Owens

Pat is the author of Faith Like Fire. It is a story of the journey God has walked with her and the mighty acts he has done on her behalf. It is the story of how God heard and answered her prayer when she held His word up to Him and meekly stated, “I want to know you like they knew you.” Be careful what you pray for! God hears and He will respond! Pat began the full-time, faith-based ministry of Faith Steps in the summer of 2002. She continues to speak at women’s events, retreats, and Christian comedy engagements. Her passion is equipping women and empowering them in their walk with God.