Prayer Night and Pastor Philogene

Hi, Everyone! We hope you’re having a wonderful summer so far. God gives us this change of season to refresh us and turn our hearts to Him as the Giver of all good gifts. On a Rail Trail ride a few days ago, Rena said, “Now I feel like it’s summer.”

We want to remind you of an important summer event this Sunday evening and also inform you of the home-going of a special PPI friend. First, the reminder.

Worship & Prayer Night

You’re invited to gather with us at New Life Christian Fellowship (6115 Shattuck Road, Saginaw, MI) at 6:00pm for a special time of prayer focused on Haiti. If you live outside the Great Lakes Bay area and are not able to join us, please set aside time to pray with us that evening. Here are prayer requests for Haiti that we will use at the event – Worship and Prayer Night Handout. For one sacred hour, we will worship the Lord and pray specifically for Haiti’s pastors, politicians and people. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about three ministries focused on Haiti – Partnership of Pastors International (us), Project Piti Pami (medical) and Haiti Foundation Against Poverty (education, nutrition, job training). (We’ll have info tables set up in the church lobby.) We encourage  you to get more familiar with the work of these wonderful organizations.

Pastor Philogene’s Home-Going

It’s fitting that Pastor Philogene Odestine (Pastor Philo, as we called him) left this earthly life on Sunday at 1:00pm. He found out a week ago that he had a pulmonary disease and, thank the Lord, didn’t suffer long. We were looking forward to seeing Pastor Philo in mid-July and will miss him terribly. He has been a special friend and adviser to PPI and to me personally. Pastor Philo hosted PPI training at his church for many years and insisted on providing a car for us to use while in Ouanaminthe. He and the League of Pastors he led have prayed faithfully for PPI training and participated regularly. We brought him to the USA in 2013 to take part in a Hopevale Church missions conference, fulfilling one of his life-long dreams.

A gifted and seasoned church leader, Pastor Philo loved to encourage younger church leaders and teach them songs of the faith, especially in French. WATCH one of my favorite memories of Pastor Philo. We will miss him greatly, but know this is “na a wè pita” (“see you later”). Please pray for Pastor Philo’s dear wife, daughters, sons, church and the League of Pastors. His shoes will be hard to fill!

Heading for Haiti July 12

Brian Clark and I leave for Haiti on July 12. We’re excited to get back! Over our two weeks there, we will offer three PPI courses in two cities in the Northeast Department. Please pray for us, our Haitian team and some 350 church leaders who will take a PPI course. May the churches in Haiti be strengthened and grow in numbers and maturity in Christ to the glory of our God! (Acts 16:5)