Pressing in for Breakthrough!

As Americans, really the world community as well, are living through these times of tumult in various fronts, we are freshly reminded that the Lord is our provider. We are most encouraged at His promises:
 
“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
 
IMPACT Ministries has been blessed to serve with many of you for several years. The service has involved inner city youth and family ministries, Disaster Relief, and church planting. Without all of your prayers, volunteer efforts and other investment contributions IMPACT would not exist. You are not only making an IMPACT, YOU are IMPACT Ministries.
 
Following is our most urgent appeal to each of you and your fields of influence for continued prayers, volunteerism, and investment funding. It is appropriate to share with you that IMPACT has a huge financial need at this time that you can help fulfill with your prayer and financial investment .
 
Thousands are currently homeless from Hurricane IKE .  At least 300 people are missing and presumed dead.  Due to the recent economy and elections, this devastation is not making the news.  However, the need exists.  We as the Body of Christ are called to reach out these that are hurting.  IMPACT Ministries brings Hope to those who desperately need Hope from those of you who have and know Hope.  We rely on your generous investment of time, talents and money to do so. 
 
Just because America is in a recession doesn’t mean God is.  While on a conference call yesterday with another national ministry, the leader encouraged everyone to, “Turn off the news and get busy doing God’s work”.
 
The continued operations of IMPACT Ministries of which you are a part needs your immediate help in order to continue to do God’s work.  The cost to deploy and operate equipment, fuel, food, and overall ministry needs are staggering.  The amount of gift-in-kind donations and funding sources are considerably less than that of Katrina or even that of a year ago.
 
Please invest in what the Lord is doing through you through IMPACT as we together do our utmost for His highest. Remember that you cannot give out more than the Lord will bring in to you.
 
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE HELPING OTHERS!
 
Blessings, and every payer you pray and every dollar you send spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ!
 
JD & Toni Smith
IMPACT Ministries

Awake to Righteousness (1 Cor. 15:34)

Since 2005 the church has been recognized to have answered the call to help in the aftermath of Katrina.  Let us not slumber now when such a great need is once again upon us from Ike’s devastation.

We call forth the body of Christ to shake off donor fatigue, in all resources, finances and energies and we pray Lord that you will stir us to continue to stand with those in need and not grow weary in well-doing.

We cast off every judgment and cirticism and look to You Lord God to fillour hearts with love and compassion.  You promise grace to the humble and those hit by Hurricane Ike have been humbled and are in need.  Therefore, pour out sufficient grace upon them for this season.  Let them know the love of the family of God coming around them in their time of need.

Ongoing Prayer for Protection & Provision

We now have onground reports that Galveston is nearly all underwater; Lake Charles, Cameron Parish, Houma, and Terrebone Parish have worse flooding than that from Rita 3 years ago which caused catastrophic damage.
 
Our friend, Pastor Kim, says it is already a foot higher in Bourg, LA than when Rita went through and still rising.
 
We’ve lost contact with a lot of folks, praying it is simply due to lack of power and satellite signals.
 
Praying for God’ s protection and provision.

Hear Our Cry O God

Hear our cry O God and listen to our prayer.    From the ends of the earth we call to you.   Lead the people along the gulf coast to the Rock is that higher than them.  For You are their refuge; a strong tower against the foe.  Let them dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.  (based on Psalm 61)

Not Contradicting Prayer but a Two-Fold Strategy

Sometimes we get the idea that if we are standing in faith for God to do something that we will be contradicting our prayer if we also pray for preparation too.  This is not contradictory prayer, but rather we want to come at IKE with a two-fold prayer strategy.  Let’s stand together in faith for the storm to dissipate before it makes landfall.  And let’s also pray for those in its path to make themselves ready and call first responders to a posture of readiness as well.  We call in skilled workers in MS and LA to answer the call of the Lord in this hour.

We ask the Lord to release the finances needed to be a people prepared and ready to be a blessing to those in need.

We pray for all of those on the front lines … may the Lord pour out His favour and grace upon you both spiritually and physically.  May you strengthen yourself in the Lord and not grow weary in doing good.  May He be a wall of fiery protection around you and hide you in the shadow of His wings from the enemy’s schemes.

Follow Up From Emily

We are PRAYING that Ike does not hit us !!! it is taking the almost same path that Rita took with the pressure holding it down .. then at the last moment they said GET OUT it is coming for you … we do not want it to hit some where else either … so our prayer is for it to disipate before it hits land!!!

If you will look on the FEMA web site and see that out of ALL the parishes in Louisiana Calcasieu sets ALONE in FEMAS declaration for individual help!!! Now if this Ike hits we do not have the funds to evacuate ALOT of people will be STAYING … SO I just pray that we are protected … and that NO ONE GETS HURT !!!

Many many people are saying I am NOT leaving because we simply DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS …and some of the shelters people stayed in had NO RUNNING water some people slept on floors .. the tales that came back down here was HORRIBLE … people without their older kids on different busses and then the buses going to different shelters and NO one knowing where their children was until they came back!!

A People Prepared

With Hanna just becoming a Category 1 hurricane over the Bahamas; Ike as a tropical strom formed over the Atlantic, Josephine and another formation gathering, it is looking to be a busy season ahead.
 
Since Katrina “Emergency Preparedness” has become a household phrase.  With such an active hurricane season upon us much wisdom is needed to prepare both for local residents who may be affected and for those who are called to respond in faith to their needs.
 
Join with us as we cry out to God for discernment and wisdom.  We are calling forth a people to be prepared on all fronts.  Let’s be prepared getting to know God and His heart for His people.  Let’s be in a place of readiness to be deployed for His assignements and prepared for battle.
Psalm 110:3 says “Your people shall be volunteers (willing) in the day of Your power”

Thanking God for answered prayer

We are so thankful that the damage from Gustav hasn’t been as extensive as originally thought, especially for those in New Orleans.  Thank You Lord!  Gustav is now downgraded to a tropical depression and still packing some strong winds as it heads north.  Today should give some more solid answers as to the extent of the damage though and will make it more clear to determine where help is needed.

Wisdom and favor needed (7:30 p.m.)

Friends from Houma are safe but stuck with no electricity, lots of trees down, unknown damage to rest of area until water goes down.
 
JD is asking for specific prayer for divine wisdom.  With two more named storms and one with high potential of forming, it is hard to know where he should go, when, and for how long.  We are praying for some clear answers tomorrow as better news concerning damage from Gustav is established.
 
Initial response team is around Mobile, Al now and hoping to get at least to Waveland, MS this evening.  There are many tornado warnings throughout that area and many roads closed.  Pray for favor at road blocks to continue on.

On the ground report … as of 1:30 p.m.

Everyone in MS seems fine at this point.  No major storm surge.  Tornado warnings are biggest concern.
 
Spoke with people in New Orleans.  The levies are holding so far.  Winds were not as rough there as eye was to the SW.
 
We lost contact with our folks in Houma, LA as of about 10:30AM.  They had lost some siding and had a hole in their roof at that time.  Pray for their safety.  Will update when we make contact. At this point that is the area we think we will be providing initial response.
 
Our initial response team and equipment made it to Enterprise, AL and are awaiting clearance to head on to MS today.  The winds are still upwards of 50 MPH in MS and too strong for them to travel safely at this point.