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Keeping In Touch….

The Critcher Family

 August 2, 2008  

             Thank you, Pat and Carolyn,  for your work in keeping my family posted on happenings in Powhatan with  the Menno-Notes, bulletin and other news. I really enjoyed reading the latest Shultz Shaker! Earlier this year I had to give a short lesson at a men's prayer breakfast. I was at a loss until I looked in the PMC bulletin and saw Tim’s sermon title, “Why pray," using Eph. 6:11 about the whole armor of God. I used the same text for my lesson, and it went well! PMC came through for me again.

Jeremy turned eighteen on August 1.  I can't believe how fast he's grown. He will be a senior this year at Turner Ashby High School, where he’s working hard and doing really well. He also enjoys the youth group at Mount Clinton Mennonite Church, where our family attends. He has been playing guitar now for 2 1/2 years; he plays every day and is getting pretty good.

Patty volunteers three days a week at Equipping the Saints. She really loves it, and Jeremy and I help out there sometimes. Patty really has a passion for what they do, meeting various missionary needs around the world. Awhile back, she was asked to share about ETS during our morning worship service. I am very proud of her and her commitment to Gods' work in this way. Life is good in the Valley because we have been so blessed by the Lord. We strive to remain humble and give all praises to Him. Blessings to our PMC family; we hope to see you soon. 

Jerry- for the Critcher family

jrcritch3@aol.com

Ketchin’ up with Ed and Doris Ranck                            

           "Please pray for my girlfriend and for my babies' mothers."   This was a  prayer request at a recent noontime prayer session held in the Atmore Community Work Center (ACWC) chapel.  And, yes, that is no mistake: both babies and mothers are plural.  Somehow, living on the farm, I never came face to face with these thought processes, but as a chaplain in the crowded conditions of the Alabama prison system, I feel I am rapidly catching up.  There is also every vein of thought concerning the Bible present here,  among them the “King James Version only” camp.  I recently learned that I myself am not saved thanks to the combination of an improper mode of baptism and a lack of proper words being said over me at that time.  I think back on some of the  teachers I had in my past and wish for their wisdom when dealing with these and other issues.  

         ACWC (250 men capacity) continues to experience a lot of turnover as the warden works to move deserving men on to camps that offer more freedom and opportunities for free world employment.  This makes the church turnover rapid as well, but we continue to have attendance in the upper teens to mid twenties at most services with a smaller noonday prayer time each day.  As I am there only part time, a lot of this is done with inmate initiative, and I am blessed to have Jason, an inmate pastor, who takes spiritual leadership and also helps keep the chapel clean and does other mundane tasks such as chasing folks out who would use the less patrolled chapel area as a place for making cell phone calls (not allowed) and engaging in other mischief. 

         Doris and I had the chance to spend a few days in VA in June to attend her brother Millard’s wedding,  to meet with family, and, of course, to spend time with A.J. and Jed, our twin grandsons.  They are certainly two special little fellows.  Thanks to many of you for your prayers and support.  We are blessed in so many ways. 

Ed and Doris  

For questions or comments you may email the pastor at timbev2@yahoo.com or the webmaster at hffinc@i-c.net