ASSISTANCE TO PASTORS INCREASES

"This year has seen a dramatic increase of MAX Share Fund Grant requests for pastors who are experiencing emergency financial needs," reports Lloyd Miller, a MAX Mutual Aid Minister.  "We (MAX Mutual Aid Ministries) work directly through denominations and districts/conferences as part of a more comprehensive response to their needs," adds Miller.  In the last several months, five MAX Share Fund Grants have been directed specifically toward assisting pastors. This is a significant increase, reflecting the current economic pressures.  What can you, our readers, do? 

• Pray for your pastor and family.  Understand some of the concerns and pressures that are present in this vocation. 
• Find ways to appropriately support and bear their burden. 
• Discover ways to add to their joy in their work.

USA TORNADO UPDATE

In a June 3^rd report to congregations and a June 14 news release, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) reported that volunteers are actively engaged in continuing Tornado cleanup multiple sites across the US; in Virginia (April 8), Oklahoma (April 14, May 24), North Carolina (April 16),  Alabama (April 27), Kansas (May 21), and Missouri (May 22).  

Region III Directors survey the damage in Reading, KS

By June 7, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported 525 fatalities nationwide in the US, the highest death toll from tornados since the NOAA began gathering statistics in 1950, and well above the annual average of 80 tornado-related deaths.  In Joplin, Missouri alone, 6953 homes were totally destroyed with 875 others receiving minor and/or major damage.  Of  the affected homeowners, 3,359 appear uninsured, reports the MDS release.             

Please keep all the disaster survivors and their families who have experienced such storm devastation over the past ten weeks in your prayers.

• Pray for MDS staff, Regional Directors and volunteer coordinators who coordinate assistance. 

• Pray also for the thousands of volunteers assisting in so many ways across many states. 

Call 1-800-241-8111 to offer your volunteer time. 

For further information visit www.mds.mennonite.net

"IT WAS LIKE A WAR ZONE"

This was how one reporter described the aftermath of a horrendous wildfire that destroyed 30% of the town of Slave Lake, Alberta, on May 15^th.  The 7,000 residents were forced, on very short notice, to flee their homes and the town using a single highway.  The evacuees were accommodated in emergency shelters in various communities as far away as Edmonton, 160 miles to the south.  It is reported by MDS that of the 3,479 structures in the Town of Slave Lake and the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River, 432 homes & mobiles and 300 apartments have been lost, displacing a total of 732 families.  While families whose homes were not destroyed have been allowed to return, it is unknown when rebuilding of lost homes and apartments will allow the rest of the community to return. 

"It was like a war zone," said a reporter of the devestation.

Whole subdivisions reduced to charred rubble.

CELEBRATING MUTUAL AID GENEROSITY

In the midst of the Slave Lake fire tragedy, we celebrate and give thanks for the faithful generosity of the many people who so graciously gave of their time and resources to assist in this disaster.  We particularly highlight and give thanks for the congregation of Bethany Christian Church in Smith, about 40 miles east of Slave Lake.  A small constituent congregation of the Northwest Mennonite Conference, Bethany opened its doors to assist.  Their pastor, Joe and Cathy Mrak, indicate that for a week following the fire, more than sixty people each day used the showers in the church building.  Members of the congregation were also assisting with meals and other needs that emerged.  All this outreach occurred while eight of the congregation's own families were impacted by the fires.  Two families, one with three young boys, lost everything in the fires.  Others lost outbuildings and/or experienced various amounts of smoke and fire retardant damage on their properties.  All were displaced for various amounts of time.  We celebrate the efforts of the Bethany Christian Church congregation as heroic examples of the MAX constituency's outreach of Mutual Aid. MAX was pleased to provide a Share Fund grant to the congregation to undergird its support ministries.

AGENT INVITES PRAYER FOR CANCER VICTIMS

Cheryle Bailey of Cheryle Calhoun Insurance Agency in Farmington, Missouri asks readers to pray for two important people in her life.  In her own words she requests prayer for:

"My neighbor, Jennifer, a 39 year old mother of two who found out recently that she has ovarian cancer as well as a large benign tumor.  She had successful surgery and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.  Jennifer is having a tough time financially and emotionally due to anxiety attacks, not being able to work, and continual health setbacks.  She has been very upbeat and leaning on the Lord, but recently hit an emotional downfall and needs our prayers."

"My daughter-in-law who battled thyroid cancer 16 years ago and last year struggled with lymphoma.  Now she has been told she has a brain tumor.  She is to see her neurologist in July to determine what they need to do.  As the mother of two children, the youngest being 4, she is trusting God in this new crisis.  I ask for your prayer support as this is something only God can take care of." 

Thank you for holding both of these mothers in your prayers.

PRAYER FOR HEALING WHILE BATTLING CANCER

Kim and Haywood Hand are a couple in their mid-40s who live in Buena Vista, VA.  They have two children, Brennan and Logan.  Brennan just graduated in May from High Point University and will attend grad school in the fall at Liberty University.  Their daughter Logan just finished her first year at Virginia Tech.  They attend the Buena Vista Baptist Church in Buena Vista, VA. 

This past March, Haywood was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer.  He has completed 5 ½ weeks of Chemo and radiation.   He had surgery on June 15 at Sloan Kettering in NYC to remove the tumor.  He will be in the hospital for 6 -7 days and will have to remain close to the hospital for another 6 days in case there are any complications.  After Haywood has had some time to recover from the surgery he will need another 4 months of Chemo. 

The family is praying for healing for Haywood and for peace, comfort and strength as they deal with the challenges of the coming weeks and months. 

UPDATE

Greg Reddekopp: (March 2011)  Please pray for 33 year old Greg Reddekopp as he faces two major diagnostic tests in the coming weeks; an MRI on June 21^st and a gastroscopy on June 28^th.  Both are continuing diagnostic explorations related to Greg's ongoing health issues of pancreatitus, digestive problems and chronic pain, experienced since 2006 when he returned from four years of service in Africa.  In early March, Greg underwent surgery to open his pancreatic bile duct.  Thankfully, Greg has been stable and not experienced the need for hospitalization since that surgery.  Surgeons at the time indicated his pancreas appeared healthy but observed some abnormalities in his gall bladder and possibly his colon.  The upcoming MRI is to check the gall bladder and surrounding areas while the gastroscopy test is for colon cancer.  His father, Don Reddekopp, a broker with Unigroup Western Insurance Brokers and servicing most MAX Canada policies in Alberta, wrote in a recent email, "Thanks for your prayers and concern - we are praying that this will, at the very least, result in Greg's gall bladder being removed to alleviate some of his pain."

CONDOLENCES