Barn Lost in Fire

Readers are asked to remember John & Margaret Gunden from Caseville, Michigan who lost a barn, silo, hay, some baby chicks and farm personal property in a total loss barn fire on April 7th.  John is pastor at Rivers Edge Mennonite Church which is his primary vocation.  He and Margaret have seven children and the chicks were their special project. In a conversation with Mutual Aid Ministry staff, John reflected on their loss and his question of God, "What are you trying to teach me through this experience?"  "I don't know how things will work out," muses John, "But I'm resting on the scriptural promise, ...all things work together for good to those who love God, ..." (Romans 8:28).  Two local Mennonite churches, Michigan Avenue and Pigeon River joined together to help the Gundens with clean up on the weekend of April 19^th.

• Pray for John and his family as they struggle to understand God's message to them related to their loss.
• Give thanks for the support of the local churches who are expressing their love and care in a tangible way as they assist the Gunden family.

Loss of a Home

Suddenly losing your home and all of your belongings is unfathomably traumatic.  This is precisely what happened to a family in northern Ontario.  Away from home when the fire started, the family had no opportunity to save anything on Saturday evening, April 12th.  We ask the MAX Support Network community to remember this family and their two sons. At this point we do not have permission to use their names.

• Pray for the family as they make the many decisions required after such a tragic event. 
• Give thanks for a motivated faith community, the Hunta Mennonite Church, whose members immediately responded with support and a gift from the congregation's Benevolent Fund. 

A Long-Term Health Crisis:

A prayer request is made on behalf of Jr. Kuhns who has been a "brittle" Diabetic since he was in his twenties.  This has caused lifelong complications. Now aged 67, Jr. has experienced recent back surgery where several vertebrae were removed and a metal rod inserted.  Currently Jr. stands stooped over and walks with a walker.  Jr. has also been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Needless to say, medical costs and his inability to work have added considerable financial stress to Jr.'s life.  Jr. is from the Longenecker Mennonite Church in Winesburg, Ohio.  His pastor, Glenn Coblentz, believes Jr. will only be healed by a miracle. 

• Please pray that Jr. is able to receive healing from his back surgery and have the ability to walk again without a walker. 
• Pray for his family, pastor and faith community as they continue to walk with Jr. during his continuing health challenges.
• Pray for a miracle.