IN NEED OF PRAYER
A name is added to this list only with the permission of the person or the person’s family
PRAYERS OF HEALING FOR:
John Burgert, hospitalized with kidney issues and ankle infection
CONTINUING PRAYERS FOR:
The Aqa family
Kyle Ayers
Alan Baker
Karen Barrows
Maria Bartush
Gloria Benfatto
Skip Brenner’s daughter, Vicki
Emma Campbell
Mary Cartrett
Doris Christensen
Dave Cordes
Margo Dameron
Andrea Delkeskamp
Carl Dietrich
Diana Doerfler
John Ernst
Joy Fodor
Becky and Al France
Jim Gilbert
Becky Halvorson
Ruth Hartung
Malia Hassenbein
Barbara Hearne
Sharon Schnell’s daughter,
Heather Hernandez,
Jeff Hines
Penny Hunter
Scott Klipp
Larry Kluss
Valerie Krum
Ann Lane
RuthAnn Lawrence
Jeff Lowe
Beth Lugo
Judy Marshall
Sue May
Sandi Meyer
Shirley Meyer
Verlon Meyer
Bruce Minnich
Jacob Miller
Bill Munn
Ron Myren
Paul Nash
Sydney Newmark
Pastor Doris Nolan
Ryan Nostrant
Paul and Betty Olson
Carol O’Gorman
Valerie Olguin
Tracy Olkowsky’s husband, Ken
Laurie Peyton
Logan Redmond
Baby Noah Paul Rowe
Marilyn Ripley
Debbie Saunier
Carlah Schneider
Jennifer Schwabauer
Arnold Schwarz
The Siassi family
Mark Skaggs
Margaret Skinner
Marion Sullivan
Kris Swavely
Bill Swiontkowski
Dan Thiel
Gwen Thompson
Jan Timmons
Valerie Vann
Todd Wallace
Jan White
PRAYERS FOR SAFEKEEPING:
Connor Braaten, USMC
Scott Clark, U.S. Navy
LCpL. Alexander Daley
Cody Davidson, US Army
Tim David, U.S. Army
Jack Ingles, USMC
ET1 Patrick Maccarone, USN
Jake Marshall, USMC
Scott Mochatel, USCG
LCJG Caroline Truesdell, USCG
PRAYERS FOR OUR LOCAL PARTNERS IN MINISTRY:
Harbor House
Tuesday ministry with those who are homeless
Conejo Elementary Tutoring
Our Friday Food Pantry and Project Response
Habitat for Humanity
CASA of Ventura County
United Way of Ventura County
Lutheran Social Services
Jail Ministry
Blood drives
Manna
Many Mansions
Pi House
Women’s Interfaith Network
Caring Ones
(To learn more, ask our Community Concerns Team.)
PRAYER FOCUS:
Finn Bater and his family
As you will remember, we have been in prayer for this young soul in his cancer struggle. Recently, his mother, Missy, and father, Pastor Noah Bater of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, shared this post, a beautiful and deeply moving reminder of the victory we, as Christians, share through our Lord, Jesus Christ:
Friends,
After some recent tests, Missy and I were informed that Finn’s cancer has either returned or was never fully cured. Regardless, the doctors have told us there is nothing more they can do. The treatments they gave him up to this point were the best they had. Since Finn’s type of cancer is so aggressive, they did give us a couple options, but all they could potentially give us is a little more time (at the expense of wreaking even more havoc on Finn’s little body). So, Missy and I made the difficult decision this week to keep him calm and comfortable until the Lord Jesus calls him heavenward. This could be days; it could be weeks. The timeline is unclear, but the end seems inevitable.
While this news might make it sound like God did not answer our prayers, here’s the reality: for seven months now, our prayer has been for Finneas to get better. Instead, God’s plan was to make him perfect. Our prayer was for Finn’s cancer to be gone, and soon it will be, along with any other future pain or suffering he might have had to endure. Our prayer has been for Finneas to come home, and shortly, that’s exactly where he’ll be, home with Jesus. We prayed for Finneas to live a long, healthy life, and soon, everlasting glory will be his present reality.
Not only has our Savior graciously answered all of our prayers, but each of His answers is infinitely better than what we were requesting. What countless doctors, nurses, and medicines couldn’t do, the blood of Jesus did. This is why we baptize our babies. This is why Easter is such a big deal. This is why we don’t grieve like the rest of the world. Because Jesus really lives and death is truly defeated. Which means everything Jesus says is true and every promise He makes is trustworthy. What more could you ask for than to know your child will rest safely in the arms of Jesus forever? God most certainly answered our prayers. May His Name forever be praised!
Knowing this, please keep praying for Finneas, that the Lord would bring him home quickly and peacefully. Pray for our family, that the emptiness we feel in Finn’s absence would be filled with the peace that surpasses all understanding. Pray for us but don’t feel sorry for us. We are only to be pitied if Christ has not been raised. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Soon this will include Finneas, one day you and me as well—asleep in Jesus, waiting for His precious voice to wake us up forever.
We will spend the rest of our lives saying ‘thank you’ to and for all of you. Please know that our Lord used your prayers, cards, gifts, and visits to sustain our family through the most challenging season of our lives. Forgive us if we didn’t get a chance to reply or acknowledge them all. We treasure all of you and the love you have shown us. There probably won’t be many updates moving forward as we hope to spend as much time with Finneas as we can. That being said, we’ll let everyone know if/when anything changes.
God bless each of you for remembering us in your prayers. We will not forget the kindness and charity you have given us—neither will Jesus. Grace and peace are yours in abundance.
Comforted in Christ,
The Baters