The death toll from the weekend's 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Nepal is rising still. Suffering continues among survivors in the aftermath of the quake. We can help. Please keep the people of this region in your prayers. Also, Week of Compassion--the disaster relief and humanitarian assistance program fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada--is providing emergency aid through its partnership with ACT Alliance. To make a donation, please visit the Week of Compassion website.
Robert Crego
Katie McLaughlin asks for prayers for her uncle, Robert Crego. He is being discharged from a St. Louis-area hospital to his home, where he will receive hospice care. We pray for Robert's comfort and peace. We pray for Katie and her family, plus Robert's friends, as they provide support and care.
Franck Nkosso
Franck Nkosso asks for our prayers for his mother in the Congo; she is hospitalized. Franck and his family will be traveling to the Congo for three weeks at the end of May and they ask that we remember them in our prayers.
Greg Rumburg
We ask for prayers for Greg Rumburg and his family. Greg's aunt died yesterday in Ohio, and the family is making arrangements for her funeral.
Pat Bentrup
Pat Bentrup's surgeries are done and we join her in prayers of gratitude for the gift of healing. She will not be able to drive for a while, but she looks forward to returning to the familiar rhythms of her life. She is grateful for all the help she received in the past weeks and for the prayers.
Kyle Collier's mom Tammy
Kyle Collier’s mom Tammy was hospitalized last week. Meanwhile, her husband was also in the hospital recovering from surgery. The couple lives in Oregon and we pray for their healing.
Marie Heath
Marie Heath, the mother of Allison Hutton was hospitalized yesterday for tests. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Students and teachers
We ask for your prayers for the students and teachers of Garissa University College in Kenya and their families. They are the most recent victims of a growing number of violent attacks against educational institutions. Background article from The Atlantic.
Family & Friends of J. Karen Thomas
Jan Volk asks that we hold in prayer the family and friends of J. Karen Thomas, who died this week. We pray especially for Karen's partner, Colette Divine.
The Tolmie Family
Risley and Elizabeth Lawrence ask for prayers for Suzie and Rusty Lawrence, their daughter-in-law and son, as well as the Tolmie Family. John Tolmie, Suzie’s father, died this week. He lived near Indianapolis. They ask for peace as all who love John mourn.
Alice Cannon's sister
Alice Cannon is on her way to Phoenix to be with her sister whose husband died. His death was not entirely unexpected, but that doesn't make the loss any less painful. Thank you for your prayers.
Property Task Force
The Property Task Force, led by Ed Cole, is entering a critical phase of its work after many months of research, reviews of proposals, and conversations. The Official Board charged the Task Force at a meeting last night to continue to work on formalizing proposals. Members of the task force have felt and trusted the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the process. We ask for your prayers for God's continuing guidance for the group: Ed Cole, Kathy Zamata, Charlie Biter, Jeff Miller, Jack Wallace, Norma Warren, Bill Tallent, Stephen Moseley, Carol Doidge, Joe Keith, Reggie Hill, Greg Rumburg and Thomas Kleinert.
Nancy Kleinert
Rebecca Bachschmidt asks that we keep Nancy Kleinert in prayer as she prepares to travel to Ica, Peru March 21-28. She will be part of the Living Waters group from nearby Westminster Presbyterian Church that will be installing a clean water system at a boy’s home. Representing Vine Street Living Waters, Nancy will observe the installation and serve as a clean water educator, alongside local teachers. The home is among those visited by Joe Cheng and Ted Parks last May. Along with Nancy, we pray, too, for the Westminster folks and for the Peruvian community with whom they are partnering.
Pat Bentrup
Pat Bentrup is preparing for her second in a series of brain surgeries tomorrow. She asks for our prayers. If all goes well, she will be hospitalized for a day. A third surgery is scheduled for March 25.
Sherry Blair
Joyce Crowell shares that her daughter Sherry Blair broke her ankle recently. Doctors are still formulating a plan, but surgery is anticipated for next week. We pray for Sherry’s healing.
Fred Craddock
The Rev. Dr. Fred Craddock, a much-loved minster of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), died on Friday. A preacher, scholar, teacher, writer, mentor and friend to many worldwide, Craddock was 86. We hold in prayer especially his family and the congregation of Cherry Log Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cherry Log, Georgia. Craddock was profiled in a recent Christian Century article. Read his obituary here.
L.T. Taylor
Mikeal Trump asks that we pray for the students, faculty, staff, friends and family of L.T. Taylor, a Hillsboro High School student who died last week. Mikeal, in his work at the school, is aware of the substantial grief related to this young man’s death.
Elizabeth Lawrence
We learned Elizabeth Lawrence returned home Wednesday following a recent hospitalization. Risley says she's feeling now much more like herself than she was over the weekend. We are grateful for the care Elizabeth received!
Update: Pat Bentrup
Pat Bentrup is grateful--her first of four surgeries went well! She is home, feeling good and anticipating the second round next week. She thanks us for our prayers and continues to keep Vine Street in her prayers.
Toni Foglesong
After a brief stay at home over the weekend, Toni Foglesong has been hospitalized again. It appears to be a continuation of her recent illness. As always, she welcomes our prayers for healing.