Urgent Prayer Request

Received this morning from my friend Patricia.

 

Gary,
Just got this from a former colleague. Please pray.
Thanks,
Patricia
 

I have an urgent prayer request... My little brother Matthew's wife Julie (both are Liberty grads) is an RN in the hospital at Duke. She was removing stitches from the neck of an HIV patient a few hours ago when he suddenly jerked to the side. The needle that had infected blood on it jabbed into my sister-in-law's hand. Please pray that she does not contract HIV!! She is in the hospital at Duke and has to see a specialist first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, HIV can take 6 months or so to show up on blood tests, so the next several months will be agony waiting for results. Additionally, they are placing Julie on medication to assist her immune system, but the medicine will make her extremely ill. Please pray that God will comfort them during this difficult time of waiting. Fortunately, God is in control!!
-Kimberly
PS-When it rains, it pours :-) .....Also, my mom has to have major surgery in a couple weeks.

 

 

Prayer Request

I received an email this morning from my friend of almost 37 years, Steve, asking for prayer for his younger brother David.

David is undergoing heart bypass surgery in Danville Thursday. He is 52 years old and had congestive heart failure about a month ago.

 

Please David and his family in your prayers.

 

Thanks.

Gary

Update

Update - just received from my friend Rick:

 

Hi All
 Just got back from the hospital, all of the arteries are clean, but the apex of his heart is not working, and they really don't know why. He may have had a small heart attack when he had the stroke, or this just my be something he has had all his life. Not alot that can be done, he will be on a blood thinner for the rest of his life I am told. I want to thank all of you for the thoughts and prayers you have sent. Beth thank you so much for the call last night, I will never forget it. Now that we know what is going on we will deal with it and move forward. His biggest concern right now is he can not pick up Rebecca for a week. She will not understand. But her granddaddy can, so I guess I am on deck.
Lov to you all
Thanks Again
Rick

Prayer Request

Received last night from my friend Rick.

 

Hi Family and Friends
 I ask that you put my son Chris in your prayers. Chris is having a heart catherzation in the morning.Chris is only 25 but has 2 TIA {mini strokes} in the last 2 months, doctors really don't know what is going on. He had an echo and an ekg the other day and now they want to do a catherzation. Please put him in your prayers.
Thanks
Love to all,
Rick
 

Holly - back home

Thanks to all who inquired about Holly.

 

She's doing OK - a little sore. She had 4 teeth pulled and got 4 "princess crowns" plus some other work done while she was under, but she came thru like a trooper. Mom's gone to get her some mashed potatoes and pudding for dinner.

 

Gary

Holly

Please keep Holly in your thoughts and prayers as she has dental surgery this morning at 9:30am.

Thanks.

Gary

Prayer Request

My friend Dan informed me last night that his friend Will's sister-in-law, Sarah, went to be with the Lord Saturday night after a battle with cancer. Please keep their family in your prayers.

Thanks.

Gary

2 Requests

Received today from my friend Steve -

 

Hi Gary,

  I'm off from work this week was planning on a vacation..and Friday night my younger brother David(52) had congestive heart failure. He's in Danville Memorial at the moment so if you could get everyone you know to pray for him I would really appreciate it. Doctors can only do so much and the rest is up to God.

Thanks,
Steve
 

 

Also - my sister is Vicky is having a heck of time with a skin condition. Please keep her in your prayers. - Gt

Prayer for a Troubled Fellow

Received this evening from my friend Scott. Thanks.

 

Hello friends,

Please intercede for a fellow who is in jail for a DUI, not his first. Alcohol has controlled him most of his life. He needs Jesus. Perhaps in this time of forced abstinence, he might be able to hear the Lord and

 " perhaps God may grant him repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and he may come to his senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been  held captive by him to do his will." (2 Tim 2:25-26)

As a friend told me, this may be the best thing that could happen at the time; it might save his physical life and his soul, too. May God's will be done.

Thank you,
Scott

 

Prayers for a famous voice

Hello friends,
Got this email today regarding a man we've all heard promoting movies, and may have seen in the Geico commercials, Don La Fontaine. They are asking for prayer "of all sorts". Let us, who know the one true God, pray not only for his healing but that he, his family and the folks who sent this request will see the hand of JESUS at work here and come to surrender to Him. The man whom to many may sound like the "voice of God" needs the touch of God in his fragile life right now. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear this well-known voice give praise to Jesus?!? May it be so.
Thanks,
Scott


Don and his family need our help.
The Lafontaine family needs our help. Don Lafontaine, the TOP Voice Talent of today, famous for his signatory line in many movie trailers, "IN A WORLD", Is not doing well and is in the hospital at this time.
Don's wife Nita has put out this plea sent to us via VO Universe, Beau Weaver & George Whittman:
The letter reads... Dear friends and family, I need your help and I'm reaching out to all of you. My wonderful husband is in critical condition at Cedar Sinai hospital; a blood clot is lodged in his lung and he is fighting for his life. This happened on Saturday after I'd taken him in for shortness of breath on Friday. He was doing very well and I left him talking and being funny on Friday evening. Without all the details, I got a call on Saturday morning as I was heading there to visit. There has been some lovely improvement yesterday but he is very sick right now. We need your concentrated prayers! Have your churches synagogues, temples send out prayers for Don's healing and wellness. Light a candle, chant, whatever you do to send that loving energy and light to him, I would appreciate. And save a little for the girls and me. We have had small miracles already and if we all shout up to God collectively, I know how powerful that can be. He is fighting and we all are fighting with him. He is strong and is a warrior so I thank you in advance for your prayers, good wishes and kindness on behalf of my family. With a hopeful heart, Nita and family Don has blessed us with his powerful voice, so let's bless him with ours!We can't think of any stronger energy than THOUSANDS of voice talents, actors, directors, producers and entertainment colleagues. If we all stick together and put out positive energy, prayers or whatever your believe, we can collectively make Don well.
Please join with us to help bring Don back home to his loving family.
Jim & Penny

Benji's Home

From David this morning -

 

"Benji was returned today.  He's in good shape.  Thanks to all who prayed for his return."

 

Thanks, all.

Gary

 

Hebrews 11:1
 

Prayers for Benji

Received this morning from my friend David. I've known David for almost 30 years (wow!), and we became instant friends. Also like me, he got a late start on a family. He and his wife, Lisa, have 2 young children, and live in the Charleston, SC area.



"I have a prayer request. My dog Benji ran away last Sunday. He's a Wheaton Terrier mix with striking blue eyes. He's a great dog and has become a family member and we really do miss him a lot. If you guys could pray that he will somehow be returned, I'd really appreciate it."




Thanks.
Gary


"But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!" - John 15:7
.

Prayers for Sarah

My friend Dan has requested prayers for his friend Will's sister-in-law, Sarah, who has cancer.
Please keep her and the family in your prayers.

Thanks.

Gary

2 Requests

From my friend Scott this afternoon:

Hello friends,
Two requests for you today, if you don't mind.
Our friend Rick Sadler oversees a Charlottesville-based ministry that is the liason for Arise Africa, the folks with whom we work in Uganda. Please pray for a web person for Mission Link. They need someone to manage their website...I am wondering if I am the guy but I have little website experience and would need to learn a lot. This is a volunteer position and would mainly involve keeping the site updated, as I understand it and could be done from anyway. I have a plan to promote the ministry but we need to get the site current and keep it that way! (I'm not affiliated with MLI, just trying to help) I won't put the link in this email in case a spam filter might block it but you can do a search for Mission Link International Charlottesville and find their website.

The second request is for the folks at Spirit FM. Fourteen years ago this month, a fledgling radio station went on the air serving the Lynchburg/Roanoke area with contemporary Christian music. I was among its early listeners, curious about the music and even more so about the message. God used the music and ministry of that station to change my life. (I could write a lot about that!) Since those early days, Spirit FM has grown to become a regional Christian network of stations serving an audience much larger than they ever imagined. As a non-profit entity, it depends on gifts primarily for the operating costs. God has met the needs of the ministry and will continue to provide as long as He intends to use this instrument of His grace and love. However, I was moved to share with the public that Spirit FM has an immediate, urgent need-a new transmitter! I am not employed by nor affiliated with Spirit FM. I had planned to write a letter to the editors of the Roanoke and Lynchburg papers to hopefully draw attention to their need but cannot because I work for another station. So I decided to ask you to pray for this need. We are fortunate to be served by a number of Christian radio stations in the area and Spirit FM is meeting a need here. You may not listen to them nor appreciate the style of music, but if you believe in the message, support them at least with your prayers for this most important need, the ability to stay on the air!

Two different needs, both of which are answering Jesus' call to "go make disciples…".
Thanks for your prayers and may the Lord meet your needs in unexpected way!
Scott

Prayers for JoAnn

JoAnn C is in a very abusive relationship; twenty-three years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse. It has overwhelmingly affected her health. Her husband's family has ostracized her for most of those years. Now that their children are grown, she asks that we pray for God to direct her in her decision whether to leave her marriage or not. Thanks.

.

Prayers for Roger and "The Boss"

I received this from my friend Scott this morning:

 

Got this email from a friend today... what a encouraging word! This is too cool... in the middle of serious illness, Roger is concerned for the eternal welfare of an artist he so admires! Pray for Roger and "the boss" and may God bring much fruit from Roger's life and witness and sustain him in this difficult time.

 

May the Lord bless YOU today with a keen sense of His presence!

Scott

 

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isiaiah 55:6

 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.. Hebrews 11:6

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Hi Brother...

 

Here's a tidbit for you.

 

Roger... a fellow in our church has been battling cancer.  He's had peaks and valleys and his doctor recently told him the cancer is more aggressive and his prognosis isn't positive.

 

Roger is a huge Bruce Springsteen fan and went to see the show in Charlottesville.  Someone told Bruce about Roger and he was invited back stage. Thankfully, it wasn't just a meet and greet. Bruce spent time with Roger and Roger shared his faith with "the boss"!  No indication Bruce has accepted the Lord... but... he now calls Roger once or twice a week.  The Lord is good!

 

Take care brother!

 

Carroll

--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
www.garyLthomas.com

Prayers for Hallie

Please keep my great aunt Hallie Thomas in your prayers. She is in her early 90's and has been healthy her whole life, but is having some issues of late.

Thanks.

Gary

--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
www.garyLthomas.com

Sandra's Going Home

Hello friends,
Praise God for hearing our prayers and Sandra's very quick turnaround over the weekend. She is going home today, Monday June 23!
May God get all the glory and may He continue to restore her health.
Thanks for your prayers on her behalf,
Scott

Pray for Phyllis

Received this morning from Scott:
 

Hello friends,
The email request below came from my friend , Brenda, who is asking for prayer for her friend, Phyllis.
Thanks and may you and the Lord have an extra good day together!
Scott

"Please pray for my friend, Phyllis, whom I have known for 50 years. We grew up together and I love her dearly. Phyllis' boyfriend of 11 years has recently "dumped" her with little explanation. Phyllis has many health problems, is without a job (because of her health) and is in the process of trying to get disability. Arnold had been the "anchor in the storm." She was put in the hospital on suicide watch. She is out now, but VERY depressed and lives alone. PLEASE pray for God's presence to be strongly felt by her. Please also add her to your prayer lists at your churches....thanks so very much....I love you all....

In Christ,
Brenda"

 

 

Prayer Request

Received this afternoon from my friend Scott.

 

Hello friends,
Sandra Osborne is the mother of a co-worker who is recovering slowly from stomach surgery. Pray for her to rebound quickly and stamina for her husband as he stays with her and travels each day from the Altavista area. They are believers. She's been in hospital 14 days now and is eager to go home.

Thanks,
Scott

 

3 Requests

Good morning. Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers.

 

A friend and co-worker of Suzanne's who just retired, JoAnne, who is having shoulder surgery today.

 

Also, my aunt Joyce, who is recovering from cataract surgery Tuesday. All went well.

 

Finally, my Dad, who had a colonoscopy Monday and 2 skin cancers removed Tuesday. All looks good, praise the Lord. Dad has a MRI scheduled for Friday evening.

 

Thanks.

Gary
--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
www.garyLthomas.com

Prayer Requests

Good morning, and Happy Friday the 13th to you all.

 

A couple of requests this morning:

 

Please pray for a childhood friend, Linda, who is receiving a pacemaker this morning.

 

Also, Dad is having a bunch of medical stuff done next week. Please keep him in your prayers.

 

And please continue to keep Larry and Preston in your prayers as they recuperate from cataract surgery.

 

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

 

Gary

 

 

Three prayer requests

Received this evening from Scott.

Hello friends,

Three requests here, if I may burden you. Each is a bit unusual and together they may sound bizarre, but they are needs nonetheless.

The first is for an elderly lady named Jewel who has decided to stop dialysis. She has fought and overcome lots of health issues but is tired of fighting and ready to let go. Please intercede for Jewel and her family, most of whom are not believers, as far as I know. This will be especially hard for one son, Jim, who has shouldered the burden of her care. Also I could use some divine support as her son asked me to conduct her service, but that has not been decided for sure. Jewel is a believer, though I'm not sure how firm her faith is. I will speak to her about that. 

The second request is for peace in Tanya's family, particularly between Tanya and her mom. A number of issues in the time since Tanya's father died have created a heavy strain on Tanya's relationship with her mother. Another sibling is feeling some of the same strain. 

The third may seem trivial but it has bearing on the second request. Tanya's dad "adopted" a stray dog before he died and we've been praying for the best home possible for him. He needs to be in the country where he can run and play. I won't bore you with the details but it would be a blessing to find a family who would love and welcome this energetic fellow. 

Thanks for your time and prayers. May our Lord bless you today with a strong sense of His presence in your life. 

E.W./Scott Paulette

Prayer Request

Received this morning from my friend Desiree:

 

One of the Tanglewood Stein Mart managers, Margaret, is out of work battling cancer.  Please pray unceasingly for God's blessings. 

Thanks.

Gary
--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
www.garyLthomas.com

Pray for Sharon

From my friend Scott:

Hello friends,
The request below came from a friend today...please remember this family as you pray. 
Thanks,
Scott Paluette

 My daughter-in-law is on life support here in Lynchburg, Virginia. She has such advanced MS that she can not walk, talk, move, eat, swallow or even breathe on her own. My stepson, Patrick, and her parents are being asked to make the decision none of us ever want to have to face, whether or not to continue life support. Her name is Sharon Ober...she is 29 years old. Her three children are, Tyler - 9, Blake - 6 and Lauren - 4. Her parents are Don & Mary Jones. Only the Miraculous Hand of the Lord Himself will reverse the damage that has been done by this disease. Thank you in advance for forwarding and praying as I know you will.

Sincerely,
Sandra 

 

Prayer Request

Please pray for the family of Dr. Dennis Stuart and his wife Irene. She has endured several years of surgeries, including stem cell surgery, and they have recently learned that the cancer is now in her bones. They have 5 children - 1 in college, the others still at home.

Dr. Stuart is the first cousin of my friend Desiree.

Thank you.

Gary

Pray for mission

Good morning.
I received this yesterday from my friend Scott. I asked him for information regarding donations to this cause. The name and address follows. Please keep these folks in your prayers.
Thanks,
Gary

Mission LINK International 1677 Avon Street Extd. Charlottesville VA 22902

----------

Hello friends,

Some of you may know Rick Sadler, our friend who leads a ministry based in Charlottesville. I went to Uganda with him last February. I don't share everything with everyone but I felt to share this one. Pray if you will and give if you are so led.

Thanks for your time and prayers,

Scott/E.W.

---

From: Rick Sadler
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:06 AM
To: Scott
Subject: Update from Mission LINK International

Friends of Mission Link:

Terrible Crisis! There is a terrible shortage of RICE and the price has gone off the chart. Our friend in the mid-west purchased their last load of rice at $38.95 per 100 pounds. That is double what we paid 15 months ago. We need to order between 20.000 & 30,000 pounds. Best Price is $34.00 plus shipping. We are in the process of packaging food for Tanzania to be shipped to our warehouse in Kigoma (West Tanzania). This shipment (upwards of 285,000 meals) will end up at the refugee camp near the Congo border.

Pray:
We will need extra funds to purchase RICE.
Our storage building is almost out of room; pray that we will be able to find an alternative.
With the world food shortage, prayer that people will capture the vision of helping us feed hungry children.
Thank you for taking the time to read this brief update. God bless you so much.

Thank you for your listening ear and prayers.

In Him and for Him,

Dr. Rick Sadler, President
Mission LINK International

Prayers for 10-year-old girl

Received this morning from Scott.
Thanks,
Gary
----------

Hello friends,

We received an email from Pastor Euticauls Wambua, whom I met last February in Nairobi, Kenya asking for prayer for a 10 year old girl named Leah. Pastor Wambua has taken her into his home because she is being sexually abused by her father and uncle. This apparently is not uncommon, especially in the slums of Nairobi where they all live. This is an ugly and possibly dangerous situation; the father has threatened violence. Leah has younger siblings who also need care. Everyone involved needs prayer, but especially Leah, and perhaps countless others like her we don't know about.

Thanks,
Scott

Prayer Request

Received this morning from my friend Scott.

Hello friends,

Below is an email from Godfrey, director of Arise Africa, the Uganda-based ministry Tanya and I have worked with on our short term missions. Please remember pastor Joseph, who is grieving a daughter and who is himself ill.

Thanks,
Scott

From Godfrey….

I regret to let you know that our staff Pastor Joshua Wako has lost his 5 year old daughter. She died of malaria fever. And Joshua himself has been diagnosed with TB. Malaria and TB has become a very big threat to us and our families.

Please pray for him, his family and for the staff of Arise Africa International and for the people in Uganda.

In Christ,
Godfrey

Prayer Request for Kat's Father

Received this morning from my friend Scott:

Hello friends,
Yesterday I learned that the father of a lady who works with my company discovered unexpectedly that he has cancer in two areas of his body. He is to have surgery Friday to learn the extent of the threat, which sounds grave. I know nothing of his spiritual condition nor his name. My coworker's name is Kat. By the way, I was asked to pray for them by an unbelieving coworker; his name is Steve. Remember him also, if you will.
May God bless you today as you live this day for Him. Thanks for your prayers.
Scott Paulette

Prayers Please

George and Rosetta Christopher, young newlyweds, have recently been told that Rosetta has a cancerous lump in one of her breasts and will undego surgery this Friday. Please pray that they will allow God's will to be done and be blessed. Thanks.

Please Pray for Jean

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Please pray for my friend Jean, her daughter, and their whole family. Jean's daughter's twin babies died last year after she went into labor early. She is now expecting one child and is having difficulties again.

I pray that our Lord is merciful and makes His presence known--they are not believers. Please pray for comfort as this family once again lives through tough times and also that they come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

In Him,
Patricia

Prayer Request

Please keep David Jackson in your prayers.
Mr. Jackson was pinned between a falling tree and his tractor, and suffered multiple serious injuries.
Thank you.
Gary

Mom's Obituary

Doris Brown Thomas, 73, received her crown of eternal life, Thursday, March 20, 2008 at her residence. She was the wife of James L. Thomas, Jr. for fifty-four years. She was born in Halifax County on October 5, 1934 and was the daughter of the late Irma Saunders Brown Scott and the stepdaughter of the late Edward L. Scott. She was a member of Lane Memorial United Methodist Church, a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and friend.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Gary L. Thomas and his wife, Suzanne of Salem, Timothy L. Thomas and his companion, Troy Warner of Forest; a daughter, Vicky L. Thomas of Altavista; six grandchildren, Ashley Hall, Eric Hall, Sara Edwards, David J. L. Thomas, Christopher Thomas and Holly Thomas; a sister, Betty Hunley and her husband Larry of Lynch Station; two nephews, Kevin Hunley and C. Todd Hunley; a sister-in-law, Joyce Thomas Guthrie; and two nieces, Erin Burke and Shannon Eubanks.

A funeral service will be held Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm in Lane Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. John Martin and Rev. Julie Flores, assisted by Bob Carpenter and Mac Calhoun with interment to follow in Green Hill Cemetery.The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 pm Saturday, March 22, 2008 at Finch and Finch Funeral Home and other times at the residence.

The family suggests those wishing to make memorials consider Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Ave. Lynchburg, Va. 24503, Altavista EMS, P. O. Box 1, Altavista, Va. 24517 or Lane Memorial United Methodist Church Building Fund, 1201 Bedford Ave., Altavista, Va. 24517.

--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
http://www.garylthomas.com/

Mom

To all friends and family members.

I wanted to let you all know that Mom went to be with the Lord Thursday evening a little after 5pm.

My sincere thanks to all of you who have blessed me with your prayers, support, calls, emails and visits. Mom always loved Easter, and it seems fitting that she will be laid to rest on Easter Sunday. Please keep Dad and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Gary

--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
http://www.garylthomas.com/

Prayer Requests for Uganda and Kenya

From my friend, Scott.

Gt
 

Hello friends,

You may have heard about the trouble and violence in Kenya. Please remember these folks in your prayers. We also got an email from a missionary friend who serves in Uganda who is here in the States at the moment. His email is below, followed by another email from Pastor Anthony, a dear fellow who lives and serves the Lord in Kenya.

Thank you for your prayers on their behalf.

 

Scott Paulette

**********************

From Terry Nester, missionary to Uganda…

 

I just got off IM with a missionary in Uganda and the crisis in Kenya is causing a lot of trouble for the people of Uganda. Here's what we know so far:   

There is NO fuel in Uganda now. That means NO public transportation, no taxis, no buses, etc... The last day fuel was available (8 days ago), the price was $21.60 per gallon! The country is almost at a standstill!

All food, containers, and petrol deliveries have stopped at the border of Kenya with nothing coming in or out of the country.

It looks like Uganda will be having a food shortage and ALL prices in the country will be sky-rocketing. All of the missionaries are stocking up on food and supplies. I just sent money ahead for two 30 lb. kegs of cooking gas and it cost me almost $300!

The IMB Seminary has canceled all classes for this next term. Many of their students come from very far away and there is no public transportation available.

 

   Please pray for Uganda and all of the East African countries that are affected by this Kenya crisis. Pray for a CALM resolution for the two political sides in Kenya to meet and settle things peacefully. Pray for my family and I as we plan to return to Uganda in just a few weeks time. Pray for God's timing!

 

 Thank you for praying!

Terry Nester 

----------------------------------------

From Pastor Anthony of Kenya

 

it is sad to let you know that there is al ot of chaos-loss of lives and property in our country for the past five days. more than 300 people have lost their lives in the skirmishes.the painful one was when people were lynched to death in a church where they had ran for refuge.pray with kenya.

as i write thre is tension and no one knows what will happen next.cnn news is posting this chaos.

i cant write much now but just know that we are going thru a trying moment in the history of this country.all these is due to post election presidential result.many homes have been burnt.we have many displaced people.looting is high.

i wish you a happy new year.

 anthony

 

Prayer request

Happy New Year.

 

Please keep my mother in your prayers. She was admitted to the hospital Saturday evening. As most of you know, she underwent radiation treatments twice last year for the tumors on her spine. She was not eating or feeling well Saturday, so she was taken to Lynchburg General, where she has been recuperating. They're saying she could come home as early as Wednesday. Please remember Mom and those caring for her, including Dad and my sister Vicky, in your prayers.

 

And prayers for all of you for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008.

 

Gary
--
Gary L. Thomas
mail@garyLthomas.com
www.garyLthomas.com