Gayla's Magazine

I Need a Friend!

When Pastors wives connect, it is a powerful tool trhat blesses each one! Ideas..... Experiences.... Prayer requests..... Testimonials..... Heart aches...... Shared opinions... Private laughs! Each lady adds depth and value to the relationship. Find a peer to connect with, my friend, it will add strength to you.
Stop trying to make the ladies in your church your close friends. They cannot provide the wisdom and counsel that will be needed from time to time. While all of them would love to be your trusted friend, the truth is, none of them walk in your shoes, or have the spiritual strength to handle the weight and pressure that God designed for you to manage. The women under your care need to be able to lean on you..... Not the other way around. YOU are the tree they shade beneath. I encourage you today to find the peer who also stands in the place of ministry just like you do. You will find a safe place of a real friend through out your life!

Friends that go WAY BACK!

It takes lots of effort to clear schedules and plan time to be with friends and Pastors who all have such crazy schedules.  We planned this day for a little quality time together....

We were able to have lunch and spend some quiet time with some dear friends Bishop and Eloise Herrin and Pastors Mary and Charles Combs.

We have some great memories of time spent together down through the years... it was good for all of us!! Love to each one of you!

Dr Lonnie and Betty Rex.... world renown pianists.

 

Our dear friends Dr Lonnie and Betty have shared so many life experiences with us... this is just one performance that they have played pianos in before thousands of people. We love them dearly!  Thought you would enjoy seeing them play..

A weekend visit with precious friends....

We were blessed to spend a weekend in ministry with our longtime.... lifetime friends Bishop Delbert and Eloise Herrin and Pastor Kevin and Melissa Herrin.  We have so much history together that we always have a great time together.

Both families have sons that have picked up the legacy of ministry and are carrying the flame of the Gospel onward into their generation.  Our children now pastor New Life, and their children now pastor The Fellowship.  We are so proud of what God is doing through them!! It was awesome to see it all in action - just like ours is.... The Vision of ministry will continue safely when our lives are all past, thank God for future thinking men of God!  Go see what's happening at The Fellowship in Texas City!!

 http://thefellowshiptc.com

 

The Legend Pastor John C Jones

It was nice to visit with old friends  John C and Betty Jones in Cisco Texas!  The Bishop helped them with a few details and ideas during their recent building project of a brand new concept of a community center. Come see! It's recently completed  and dedicated in 2010.

It's gorgeous and we are so proud for them.  Their vision is complete!

We recognise pieces we have shipped to them....

Nice to see our original Cafe booths in place here!

Their new auditorium....

Everything is so beautiful....

Their daycare...

It was great to finally see it in person! We are proud for them and their innovative building.  The future looks very different for 'church' work ahead for them!  http://www.mymtc.org 

It's the Church in ACTION!

New Life Tabernacle Sullivan IL

The Bishop is in full preaching gear and his sermon was rocking  at the Mission Conference at New Life Sullivan.

It's a joy to minister at New Life.... they are open and ready to receive.   

The front row seat lets me get great shots of the meaningful ministry that happened. The praise and worship is good and full of worshippers who love God. 

Pastors Dave and Deb Dolan,  pastor this great church and  we have known them for many years and our past history just makes our friendships even better.  It's really wonderful to be together.... we all have so much to share.  These are long-time friends that it's instant 'pick up right where we left off' every time we are together.

We all have planted, built and raised up churches, both have Food and Clothing Centers, and have strong children taking the reins of parts of our ministries.  What joy to share!! Love you both - the best is yet to come!

If I lived in Sullivan Illinois THIS is where I would go to church! Pastor Dave does all kinds of illustrated sermons and it's always something fresh going on with them!!

Letters that brighten my heart...

Dr. Gayla,

We are happy and excited for you as we know that Lord is leading and fulfilling your heart’s desire as it is accomplishing His will on the earth.  We pray that you will have favor and wisdom in all of your new adventures.  We miss you more than you know.  But yes, you have trained and equipped us well.  I must say, that I believe your absence has brought a closeness to our RMA Leaders knowing that we have to depend on each other as “Mama Bear” is not here to straighten things out.  All of us know what we are suppose to do but with you gone causes us to act upon that knowledge and trust in the Lord even more so.

I believe that Pastor Angela will do a fabulous job as leader of La Porte  RMA.  I am constantly amazed at the mantle of anointing that she has and the wisdom in which she walks in it.  She is fully capable to lead RMA with wisdom and love.  I receive her as Pastor and Leader.  I receive her in a new position of authority over New Life and RMA.

I know we are expanding and have an expectancy as to what will happen in the near future.  From north to south, from east to west, across the United States, RMA will begin to cover like a much needed blanket in the cold of winter.  Not by a boastful stance, but by a gentle slow moving hand will RMA flourish and bloom to bring comfort, healing, provisions physically and spiritually to those in need.  As the times change and the uncertainty of the future lies beyond the fog, RMA will be as a lighthouse on the rock during the winds of the storm.

 Regards, Deborah

 Pastor Gayla,

We miss you and love you very much!!!  Our prayers are with you during this time of change in your personal ministry and still feel very much a part of it.  Your strong mentoring has helped make us all who we are as leaders. 

 

Yes I do believe Pastor Angela is ready.  I know she has a heart for New Life and that will make her the best kind of leader.  We will be proud to follow and serve along side.

 

I pray that we are all making a difference in the scope of our dominion area.

 

love....Rhonda

Pastor Gayla,

I wanted to say how happy for you I am. I'm glad that God is using you in so many new ways. The world is gaining our Mama bear and they need you so much.You always make a difference anywhere you go. I wish I could ride around in your pocket and be with you for just a bit longer, but I would probably feel the same way if we had 20 more years.

               I would like to thank you for looking at me all those years ago and finding value in me. Spiritual mother doesn't encompass all you have been for me, but its the best word I can find. Thank you for being such an extraordinary force in my life and holding my shaking paper or hand whenever necessary.I am so honored by this opportunity to rise to the challenges that God has for me both personally and corporately. And I know that Pastor Angela feels the same way. She is truly a lovely woman and I expect our lives at New Life will be enriched in a new way under her leadership. We will continue to grow and bind together as the team you and God designed us to be.You have trained us well, and left us in very capable hands. We will make you proud and God will smile!!!

Love you,

Shelby

---

Gladys Owens

I want to pay special tribute to my right hand and trustworthy friend.... Sis Gladys Owens.  She worked side by side with me through any project that needed to be done over the last 8 years.  She was a minister's wife for over 50 years and understood the challenges and responsibilities I face.

She would sew.... cook.... clean.... study... teach.... preach.... do research for me..... listen.... pray.... laugh.... cry.... create answers with me out of nothing.....play the organ....sing....decorate... she never said 'no' to whatever I needed her to do.  We spent many a happy hour working together and sharing our hearts.  Very few people can understand our calling and position in life - it takes a preachers wife to understand a preachers wife I think.

I will miss you sorely my friend. But I am happy for you... today you walk the streets of gold you preached about. Today you are living in paradise with your beloved Lord.

 

She loved a good time....now you will have a good time for eternity.

 

You WILL!

We finally are here and viewing all the work that is going on at Oasis.  Most people have no idea how much work it takes to rebuild a church after a fire.  We are so proud of Pastors Doug and Susan Young.  Your many untold hours of hard work WILL  be completed in this long long project.

 

It's going to be so beautiful and completely different inside!  To those of you in Los Banos reading this post..... keep going.  Never mind how long the hours are, never mind the sacrifice it's taking, never mind those that simply stand and watch you work, never mind those with negative statements.  Jealousy often is hiding behind words of those who are not a part of the blessing! Just keep building.... it's soon going to be done and oh my..... how we WILL all rejoice with you!!!  You WILL stand in this sanctuary and worship the Lord again.

 

You WILL  baptize many people in this  new baptismal pool.

 

Children WILL  be taught in wonderful new classes in the children's area!

 

The doors WILL open and people will have a friendly welcome! You WILL smile and enjoy coming to Oasis!

 

The Oasis family WILL come into His courts with praise.... bringing their offerings to support this significant work of the Lord.  We can't wait to dedicate it to the service of the Lord and HIs Glory! 

It won't be long now.... You WILL!

Friends we see at last.....

Ok..... it's time to move on.  Down from the peaks of natural  beauty to the joys of seeing real friends again, we are looking forward to our California assignments and ministry.

 

Stop along the way and call a precious couple...Jim and Betty Davis.  They both are looking well and have so much to talk about... it's good to see them. They climb aboard and we spent some quality time together.

 

Then it's on to Los Banos for the weekend services.  The Bishop preaches a message that is timely and important to this church family at this moment in it's history. They are poised for change and a new level when they move back inside their newly restored church building. The fire was a very hard experience for all of them,  but it's almost over and the page is about to turn here.  The Bishop has been beside to Pastor Doug during this entire experience and hardship, and we rejoice together at what's about to happen.

Can't wait to see everything that is here.  With the church getting completed, to the RMA store to the Warehouse - we are excited to finally get to see it all in person. We are so proud of Pastors Doug and Susan - they have both worked so very hard and the results are going to be life changing for this town.

 

A meal with them and the kids at a place they know we like to eat here.  The Sole Fish dish here is divine!

The lady in the background was not with us - not sure who she was ... funny how pictures can look sometimes :)

We look forward to a great week together.