August Prayer Letter

August 1, 2013

Dear Friends,

As I (Vicki) write this letter I am thinking about our city.  I have lived here for twelve years and have come to love it dearly.  Once again I am saddened this summer by the number of shootings that have already occurred and the fact that two people I know have been shot at.  As I scan the internet much of what I find about Chester involves the violence, but God is at work bringing his kingdom here.  I would like to share with you, our partners in ministry, where I have seen God working.

First of all I have seen him working in our neighborhood, Highland Gardens.  As our family has gone for daily walks and have chatted with people walking by our house, we have seen more and more people open to talking with us and open to being prayed for.  We have had a number of kids stopping by to hang out at our house, they know it is a safe place to come.  Kids whose hearts have been hardened by life, soften as they are free to play and be a kid.

Second, I have been blessed to see how the Frederick Douglass Christian School (FDCS) has impacted families in Chester.  I interviewed Lavada for the schools bulletin.  As a grandmother raising her two granddaughters, Lavada consistently told me how much it has meant for her to know that her grandchildren are getting a good education while also being grounded in their faith. 

God has been using The Urban Ministry Institute to train leaders in Chester.  There are two campuses one located at FDCS and the other at the State Correctional Facility in Chester.  Stories abound of lives being changed as they are empowered by the Truth of Gospel to share with others what they are learning.  These stories include men in the prison who are sharing what they learn with other inmates and through doing this are learning what it means to be godly leaders.

Praise God for all that he is doing in Chester!

Please Pray:

Some of our regular visitors

• For God’s peace to rest over our city.
• For God to provide the needed teachers for FDCS for the upcoming school year.
• For Tom and I to speak the Truth boldly in our neighborhood.

Blessings,

Tom, Vicki, Lizzy, and Lilly Anthony