PRAYER AND PRAISE RELIEF UPDATE FROM PASTOR STEVE RUTENBAR This week Pastor Steve and Saddleback volunteers have been serving the Lord in Katrina affected areas. He reports that the Relief Trips have been going extremely well! With the onset of Rita and changes in plans, God has shown up in so many ways. Blessings have poured out to the survivors and the team members who are serving alongside partner churches. The teams have seen many devastating things, as Steve described it Уimagine taking your entire home and putting it through a tree chipper, then multiply that into entire housing tractsЕ that's what we're seeing. Pictures can't even capture the true immensity of the destructionЕФ There are so many unbelievable stories of people coming to know Jesus! Steve and the teams are tired, but they are grateful to be out there. Everyone is safe, and the teams are on their way back home. Please pray for safe travel for team members. Pray for a team of 4 staying in the area through Hurricane Rita. Pray for the next group going out in October. Pray for the partner churches as opportunities develop. Pray for small groups as they consider serving over the coming months. Pray for emergency relief and rescue efforts in the wake of Hurricane Rita. Pray that the storm will weaken and cause minimal damage. Pray that suffering will be limited and that lessons learned with Katrina will be heeded. Pray for the President, state, local, federal leaders, first responders and volunteers who will be responsible for rescue and aid. Pray for hurricane survivors as they are putting their lives back together. Pray for people who are still missing family members. Pray for families and friends to be reunited. Pray for pastors and churches to reconnect with new vision.

Both individually and in small groups, letТs begin our prayer focus with praise. God is working in miraculous ways to reunite families and to help flood survivors relocate and restart their lives. He is providing for needs and spurring His people on to love and good deeds in His name. As we continue in a spirit of thankfulness, pray that the miraculous would continue. Let's lift up the following requests

Pray for the survivors as they seek help for their immediate needs - water, food, clothing, shelter and medicine. Pray as they seek long-term solutions for housing, jobs, healthcare, education for the children and resources. Pray that they will seek GodТs provision in this time of crisis.
Pray for the churches devastated by the storm. Pray that the pastors and members will be able to reconnect and resume body life in a new way.
Pray for the local churches responding to the needs. Pray that they will have wisdom and creativity for sharing resources with those in their care. Pray that they will show Christ in their words and actions.
Pray for Saddleback as Pastor Rick, Pastor Steve and the team process all they have seen and heard, to have clear direction from God on how we will be involved. Pray for the training meetings of September 10th (10am Ц 12noon) and September 15th 6:30pm Ц 8:30pm. Pray that many will be able to attend one of these meetings. Pray that we will be generous with time and money as we respond.
Pray for all church leaders, relief workers and government leaders (local, state, federal) that they would have the courage, strength, endurance, protection and wisdom from God that they need day to day.

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