Category: Prayer & Updates

We are saddened to announce the death of Dennis Lawrence, a GCI pastor in Montreal Canada. The following announcement is from Dennis’ wife, Lynn Lawrence:

To all our wonderful church family across Canada and the world,

It is with great sadness that I share with you that my husband, Dennis Lawrence, lost his battle with cancer on Wednesday evening, December 7. Although Dennis’ health had been declining slowly, he was home and reasonably independent up until the Wednesday before his death; even attending a pastors’ meeting of churches in the area we have our services in Montreal. The change between Wednesday and Thursday was dramatic and he entered a hospice center on Friday. During the last few days of his life Dennis was surrounded almost continually by his whole immediate family, including my mother and his sister, and we were able to be there with him as he drew his last breath.

It would be impossible to summarize the last 37 years in ministry, but I know he loved it, and all the people he had the privilege of working with and for. He loved the people God gave him the chance to serve.

It is also impossible to adequately express our appreciation for not only the thousands of you who prayed for him, but also the hundreds that took the time to tell us, some repeatedly, that you were praying regularly for Dennis’ healing and peace. All that prayer and love held us up often during his 20-month illness. Please share with your churches how very much we appreciated all the cards, letters and facebook/email messages of love and encouragement. Dennis will be greatly missed by all of us, I know.

-Lynn

Note: you can send Lynn notes of condolence by using the “add a comment” feature below, by emailing them to lynnegbert@yahoo.com, or by sending them to:

Lynn Lawrence

211 De L’ile Blvd

Pincourt, PQ J7V 3R6

CANADA

Here’s an update from Jim Kissee on his daughter Janna Jones:

I just arrived home and we are thrilled. Janna’s cancer surgery Tuesday was longer than expected due to a larger tumor and more lymph nodes included. The nerve that we were concerned about is okay. The other nerve to the voice box was stretched, but all looks good. Janna experienced some hoarseness but her doctor noticed a change in her voice just from yesterday – a good indication that this nerve is starting fire. The doctor felt he was able to remove cancerous areas completely, which is great news.

Thanks for the prayers.

Jim

 

Here is an update to an earlier prayer request for Janna Jones from her father, GCI pastor Jim Kissee:

Janna and our son-in-law Nate are thankful for the many encouraging notes of support with prayers. Their daughter Lilah was born November 30! On December 5 both mother and daughter received a good medical report, despite the induced labor, which was necessary due to Janna’s thyroid cancer operation scheduled for December 13. Continued prayers for Janna are appreciated.

Lilah is settling in. She seems to like her new home. As you can guess, the whole family is rejoicing. We won’t believe how much Janna’s early pictures look like Lilah’s. This little girl, like her mommy, has lots of thick hair. What a joy!

Janna has a blog describing her journey while pregnant with cancer. Go to http://pregnantwithcancerwhat.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/pregnant-with-cancer-what/.

We’ll keep you informed. Thanks for the prayers and love.

Janna Jones

847 S Campbell Ave

Springfield, MO 65806

 

A group of missionaries from GenMin’s Crossing Borders ministry are leaving on Friday, December 9 for a weekend trip into Mexico. The group will visit two colonias (very poor neighborhoods) and one children’s home where they will distribute 400 shoebox gifts (most donated by GCI members from about a dozen different U.S. congregations), to sing Christmas songs, to share an Incarnation message, to cook and feed the kids, to play and show the love of God.

After the shoebox trip ends, four of the group will fly south to visit Karen Salinas and her 16 foster children. The group last visited with Karen and her kids about 18 months ago when they lived in northern Mexico near the U.S. border. However, they had to move south due to border violence. Please pray for the group’s safety and that their ministry will be a blessing to many.

We are saddened to report the death of long-time GCI member Victoria Marie Lee, 86, of Hammond, LA.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Lee, of Baton Rouge, her parents, Everett and Lela Wyatt of Gainsville, Texas, and her sisters, Helyn Coe of Conroe, Texas and Billie Jo Nokes of Midland, Texas. Marie is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Sandy and Dave Orban (Dave pastors GCI churches in Texas) and Pam and Mike Horchak (Mike pastors GCI churches in Louisiana and also serves as a GCI district pastor), five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Notes of condolence may be posted on the funeral home website at http://www.resthavenbatonrouge.com/guestbook.asp?page=guestbook&id=21336&locid=36 or sent to Marie’s daughters:

Sandy (Lee) Orban

7 Ramblewood Dr

Longview, TX 75605-3348

Pam (Lee) Horchak

41120 Adelle Dr

Hammond, LA 70403-7539

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please pray for Hazel Roberts, wife of Jim Roberts who pastors the GCI congregation in San Leandro, CA.

Hazel was taken to the hospital recently, having lost most of her mobility. This condition is apparently due to restriction of blood flow to the brain, though her doctors are still running tests. It is anticipated that Hazel will return home this week. Prayers for her full and rapid recovery and for Jim are appreciated.

 

 

We received word that our members in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo were being exposed to danger due to violence surrounding the recent elections. As far as we know, none of our members were injured, but we request prayer for their safety.

As is the case in other parts of the world, our churches in South Africa are facing difficult financial circumstances due to the global recession. Tim Maguire, the national ministry leader, along with the members of the South African church board, request your prayers for wisdom and guidance as they decide how to wisely steward the funds God has given them to best participate in his mission in their part of the world.

Here is a prayer update from Rex Dela Pena, one of our pastors in the Philippines:

My family and I would like to express our deep gratitude for the prayers lifted for my mom during her 36-day confinement. She was discharged on November 8 and is recuperating at home. Thank you very much for showing God’s love for all of us.

 

 

We are saddened to learn of the death of Anne-Marie Kennedy. She died on November 7 from abdominal cancer. Her daughter informed us that she was with her family until the very end in the house that she loved.

Anne-Marie was married to GCI pastor John Kennedy who died several years ago after a very long battle with cancer of his own. John and Anne-Marie graduated from Ambassador College then served in the ministry of WCG/GCI for many years in California, Maine and New Hampshire.

Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to their son Paul and their daughter Lia at these addresses:

Paul Kennedy

8 Middle Jam Rd

Gorham, Me 04038

Lia Kent

12 B Park St

Dover, NH 03820