HEART TO HEART 

By Dave Gentry

To witness a miracle is an awesome thing! Yet, every time that I have the privilege of observing a Christian leader restored to health and re-established in kingdom work, it is indeed a miracle.  God is in the business of healing and restoration.  Recently, a friend and client gave witness to this in a telephone conversation.  He recalled how down and out they had been several years ago when a church situation had “gone bad” and his family had been attacked.  Untrue accusations were made and painful events followed.  Their marriage was shaken and there was turmoil in their home.  One of their children ran away due to  false accusations from church members.  All of which were untrue.  This teen abandoned both family and God.  My friend was ready to quit both marriage and church ministry.  It was at that point that a mutual friend of ours directed him to Westwood Ministries.  It was the opportunity that God needed to get his attention and touch his heart.

My friend and his wife came to Westwood Retreat Center and spent time in sabbatical rest and counseling.  God used that experience to work in their hearts and restore hope!  What a blessing and what a miracle!  This family is again in full-time ministry for the Lord, and their children are faithfully walking with the Lord.  Not every human story has this outcome, but it is not because God is not willing and faithful to do His part.  God’s servant leaders are very close to His heart and He desires to do a work in each heart.

Daily, I thank God for the people He uses to carry out His work of mending hearts.  I thank Him for our staff and their families because so many benefit from their faithfulness and devotion to God and His kingdom.  Also, I thank God for you.  Each prayer and support partner is a member of this “great team” that God has assembled “for such a time as this.”  Thanks for being a supporter of this great crucial ministry.

Please join me in praying that our Operation Kingdom Preparation will glorify God!  It is our desire as a faith organization to come into operational obedience before God and be debt free in 2002!  Our challenge is $200,000 for the year 2002.  As of February 28th we only lack $162,000 to reach our goal.  May God be glorified as we reach this goal of obedient debt freedom!  Thanks for your part of this endeavor.

In  His Grace….