Praying for Prodigals

Sometimes parents experience true anguish of soul as children they have raised to follow the Lord make very bad choices and turn their backs on Him. In such moments, prayer is extremely important. By pouring their hearts out to the Lord, parents can find healing and peace in spite of the circumstance. Even more importantly, their prayers are powerfully effective in seeing their prodigals come back into a right relationship with God.

Earlier this morning, I received an email with a touching article written by Francis Frangipane's daughter, Joy, chronicling some of her journey away from God, and then back to Him. Her words bear eloquent testimony to the power of parental prayer and provide a window into the heart and mind of some prodigals. If you are facing such a circumstance in your life, I encourage you to read her article entitled, Your Children Will Return.

Speaking of parent–child relationships, my parents, Kenneth and Vera Brand, will be ministering tonight, Wednesday, September 12th, during our Word and Worship service in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at 7pm. They have each been preaching God’s Word for more than fifty years, serving the Lord with integrity, dedication, and great fruitfulness. Anything I ever become or do for the glory of God in my life will be due in large part to the spiritual seeds they have sown in my life and the prayers they have prayed. I know their ministy in word and testimony will be a great blessing to all who hear them.

Terry and Rolanda Green will kick off a new LifeGroup for parents with children next Wednsday night, September 19th, by facilitating a dynamic video study series called Miracle Parenting, by Phil Phillips at 7pm in Room 214. Simply put, this material is the best I have ever seen on a practical, biblical approach to raising positive, healthy children who love Jesus with all their hearts. I encourage every parent that possibly can to in this study with them! And, don’t forget - we serve a delicious, inexpensive meal every Wednesday night from 5:30-6:30pm in our Performing Arts Center with full children’s ministry beginning at 6:45pm until classes end.