Hey everyone - thanks for checking on Kathie.

I misunderstood the message I was given at church this morning.

It was Kathie's husband's mother, not hers, that had a heart attack.
They are all very close - and they thank you for all the prayers.

They rushed her to Memorial right around church time, and they were successful in putting in three stints.
They were waiting to see how the stints held up, and they were still awaiting an orthepedic consult.
She hurt her knee as she fell over in her garden this morning.

Continue to keep them in your prayers - the name is Rita Wright.  Kathie's husband is John.

As we know more, we'll update here & send some emails out.

Thanks,

Pastor Ed

Thanks for logging over here to pray for these today! 

1)  Keep Peg Kastner in your prayers as she recovers at Memorial from ARDS - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.  The doctors have been able to pinpoint what is going on - now they need to wait on the recovery.
She could be in the hospital anywhere from "days to weeks" depending on the healing process.  Last week she was on a respirator, and she's been in a highly contained envoronment because it can be contagious.  It has been very exhausting and frustrating for Peg to have to go through this, and her mom & dad, friends, and family have been put through so much waiting to see what is going on.  There is a strong chance that this has all been caused by a flu strain brought over from her son Tyler after he was on mission in Puerto Rico.  So it  has been especially hard on him.  Please pray for healing and strength, and for Peg, Tasha, and Tyler during this time. 

2)  Military updates:

Brad Cowan - in Afghanistan.  They had a tough week seeing the caskets of those who died in a plane crash.  Pray for their safety and strength.  Pray for Brad as he continues to minister to all of his squad out there. 

Jamie Vannier - they are back from one dangerous mission already.  It was pretty intense, but everyone came back safely.  Hopefully awhile before they have to do another, but it can happen at any time.  The schedule as it stands now has him there for one more month.  Rumors have started, however, about keeping them there longer.  Pray he would be able to come home at the original time. 

Quentin Knobloch - Still in Afghanistan, but in the process of starting to come home by early August!  Pray for his safe return, and for all the logistical things that need to happen.  Continue to pray for Sylvan, and Kathy as they wait!

David Taylor - is home with his wife in California!  Jim and Judy were there this past weekend to see him.
Jim & Judy express all their thanks in praying for his safe return, and for Jim's health after the infection he was battling.  It has meant so much to them.

Mike Watson - will be leaving here in a few weeks for duty here in the states to start out with - but still away from home here in New Berlin.  Pray for Cathy & the kids and ways that our church can come alongside & help them.

3)  Urma Patrick's son Rick is departing today for a mission trip to Uruguay and later Brazil.  They will be helping out a Chinese church in Uruguay, and they are exploring propsects to start a Chinese church in Brazil.  Rick is on staff with Calvary Baptist church in Alton, IL.  Pray for their safety, and for the contacts they will be making.

4)  Pray for Will Summers who  had a biopsy done on his neck today.  They found a couple of lumps there.  They expect tests back either late today or tomorrow.  He had a sister that passed away from  Hodgkin's, and they are praying that this is something different.

5)  Pray for Dennis Morris' mother, Edna.  It was NOT a stroke as they originally diagnosed, but her heart has been having troubles.  She is too old to  have any kind of operation.  She is back in the nursing home, and they are just going to do the best they can.  Pray for continued healing and comfort, and pray for Dennis as he deals with this situation.

6)  Pray for the work on our stage - lots of things still to pull together logistically.  Pray for DJ as he leads us in this project.  Pray for all of our Buildings and Grounds committee as they put in many hours this week as well.

7)  Pray for our children's program, as we continue to develop new schedules and ideas for Sunday morning worship times.  Thank God for ALL of our wonderful workers in the nursery, preschool, and children's areas. 

8)  Praise for our  high schoolers and all the work they did this past week at Sam Winger's, here at church, and with the Gospel Fest this past Saturday.  Praise for the adult team that has been serving alongside them ALL school year long!

If I have forgotten anything - comment here so myself and others can see.  Or email it to me at ed@westernoaks.org.

Thanks for praying,

Pastor Ed

Prayer requests for this week!

1)  Pray for our students at CENTRIFUGE this week!   They are having a great time!   Pray for safe travel and safety while they are at camp, pray that God would speak in a fresh way to EACH person that is there, and pray for our leaders with all the responsibility that they have during the week.  Pray especially for Bryan!   FIFTY FOUR teenagers there from our church this week along with eight adult leaders!  

2)  Pray for ALL of our teenagers.  Some due to work, family schedules, etc. could not go to camp this week.
Pray for their summer rest, and pray as many are looking ahead to the fall with new colleges, school challenges, etc.
Pray for our teenagers out in their world - crazy at is - that they would be a Christ like influence on those around them.

3)  Pray for those that have been in hospital and now are out recovering:
              a)  Dennis Morris mother Edna, recovering from infection at nursing home in northern Illinois.
              b)  Tracey Aldrige's mother Karen Salmon, recovering from successful cancer surgery last week.
              c)  Gayla Havener recovering from diverticulitis infection back at work this week.

4)  Pray for Jamie Vannier back home on leave from Afghanistan this week.  Pray that he would have a great week with his family, and for a safe return next week - and back again - when he returns for good in October.   Pray for those currently overseas:   Brad Cowan, David Tayor, and Quentin Knobloch all in Afghanistan.

5)  Pray for our services this Sunday as we hear from the youth, celebrate July 4th, and continue to look into the life of David.  Pray for the visitors that are currently with us seeking out a new church home.

6)  Just got word that Joyce Wade is back in the hospital this week for chest pains.  As we know more, we will update the site.

Thanks for praying!
Pastor Ed

Keep hearing off and on from Bryan and other students as they are having a BLAST at Centrifuge this week!

THIRTEEN have accepted Christ so far.  WOW!!!   Bryan has a fantastic blog set up on his youth page here at the site.
They have updated pictures and descriptions of what is going on this week.  Check it out!  Click on the "YOUTH" link on our page, and there on the side is a link for "BRYAN'S BLOG."

Here are the prayer requests that we need to remember this week:

1)  Jera Hanson is having surgery this week (Wednesday) to have her gall bladder removed.  It should only be a day procedure. Pray for the surgeons and for Jera's healing and recovery time.  This is her first surgery, and she's a little nervous.

2)  Tracey Aldridge's mom, Karen will be having her second cancer surgery this Thursday.  Pray for the procedure, that they would be able to remove all of the cancer, and pray for Tracey and family as they wait on the results.

3)  Pray for the ten children that accepted Christ this past week at VBS and their families as we will be following up with them on their decision.

4)  This Saturday we'll have a group of about 60 people headed to North Carolina for camp!  Pray for their safety in traveling, and pray for safety while the kids are there.  Pray that each student would discover God in a new and special way.  Pray for the students who do not know Jesus, and that they would come to know him this week.  Pray for Bryan Throckmorton and all of our leaders that will be ministering to our kids:  Kendahl Throckmorton, Jackie (Currie) Perdomo, Kathie Wright, Ellen Farias, Jamie Kincaid, Andrew Perdomo, and Zach Zaubi.

5)  Continue to pray for the gospel fest at the end of July, and pray for the kids who we will be sharing backpacks with.  We still have many supplies to collect in the days ahead.   Pray that God would provide all the supplies we will need.

6)  Pray for all of our church family and friends overseas:

David Taylor - heading security for top military officials in Afghanistan
Quentin Knobloch - training military police in Afghanistan
Jamie Vannier - COMING HOME FOR BREAK THIS WEEK!  Pray for safety, and for he, Casey & Raelynn to have a great time together in days ahead.
Brad Cowan - probably arriving in Afghanistan this week to lead a crew to do construction at air base.
Mike Watson - at Washington DC this week doing defensive driving training.

7)  Pray for Dennis Morris' mother, Edna, who is still recovering from MRSA infection and could still be in hospital.
Gayla Havener is home after being in the hospital over the weekend for infection.  Pray for both of their recoveries and rest.

8)  Pray for our service this Sunday that we would give God our very best, and take God out with us to the world we live in.

What a great week at Vacation Bible School last week!   Here are some of the things I will take away from the week:

1)  First of all how lucky we are to have a church that cares about kids.  Coming off of last Sunday's service were many comments from visiting parents, impressed and surprised that we would give kids so much attention and focus for one Sunday!  SO many people from church played a part by teaching, giving money, giving time, donating supplies, praying, and inviting friends!   Thanks to EVERYONE at Western Oaks that did their part to make VBS a success this year!

2)  I will remember how the kids learned through the story of Moses how we have a God that deserves our worship and praise!   He WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US, He is POWERFUL, He ALWAYS DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE'LL DO, He GIVES US LIFE, and He CARES FOR US!

3)  I will remember the ten kids that gave their life to Christ, and were not afraid to come forward and let the church know this past Sunday!

4)  I will remember ALL of our volunteers that put in LOTS of time to teach our children.   EVERYONE did an awesome job, and we'll post EVERYONE's name on the site later this week.  You will need to check out how many people it takes to put on a Vacation Bible School!

5)  I am excited about what is ahead as we begin to follow up with families and kids about the decisions they have made.  Continue to be praying for our children!

Thanks again for a great week at VBS!

1.  Remember Karen Salmon, Tracey Aldridge's mother, recovering at home from cancer surgery last week.  They were able to remove cancer from her lung in 45 minutes and less!  Wow!  She is still a little sore, and has a different cancer procedure coming up in a couple of more weeks.

2.  Pray for Donna Christison.   Her mother suffered a stroke last week in southern Illinois.  They do not think she has much longer to live. 

3.  Pray for all of our graduating high school and college students.  Here are our graduating high school seniors:  Katelynn Cowan from Pleasant Plains High, Noah Adams from Chatham Glenwood, Alec Shunk from Rochester High,  Kyle Elmore  from Chatham Glenwood, and Danny Kowalenko  from Chatham Glenwood.  Be praying for these students and their families as they look ahead to a bright future!

4.  For those high school students NOT graduating - LOTS of final papers and exams coming up!

5.  Pray for our Executive Team and several others as we continue to dream and plan on how to move our vision forward.

6.  Pray for our church during this Pentacost project time - that we would take on the lifestyle of a missionary - right here in our own backyard!

7.  Pray for Nate Adams preaching in an interim position at First Baptist Virden.  Pray for Sylvan Knobloch as he is preaching an interim at Monticello Baptist Church.

8.  Pray for our crew that will be going over to serve at Washington Street Mission in two weeks.

9.  Pat Deloney and Mary Lynn Gietl getting married on Saturday!!!

10.  Pray for our Vaction Bible School coming up in just under a month now!
Pray for kids to come and to make decisions for Christ.

1.  Remember Karen Salmon, Tracey Aldridge's mother, recovering at home from cancer surgery last week.  They were able to remove cancer from her lung in 45 minutes and less!  Wow!  She is still a little sore, and has a different cancer procedure coming up in a couple of more weeks.

2.  Pray for Donna Christison.   Her mother suffered a stroke last week in southern Illinois.  They do not think she has much longer to live. 

3.  Pray for all of our graduating high school and college students.  Here are our graduating high school seniors:  Katelynn Cowan from Pleasant Plains High, Noah Adams from Chatham Glenwood, Alec Shunk from Rochester High,  Kyle Elmore  from Chatham Glenwood, and Danny Kowalenko  from Chatham Glenwood.  Be praying for these students and their families as they look ahead to a bright future!

4.  For those high school students NOT graduating - LOTS of final papers and exams coming up!

5.  Pray for our Executive Team and several others as we continue to dream and plan on how to move our vision forward.

6.  Pray for our church during this Pentacost project time - that we would take on the lifestyle of a missionary - right here in our own backyard!

7.  Pray for Nate Adams preaching in an interim position at First Baptist Virden.  Pray for Sylvan Knobloch as he is preaching an interim at Monticello Baptist Church.

8.  Pray for our crew that will be going over to serve at Washington Street Mission in two weeks.

9.  Pat Deloney and Mary Lynn Gietl getting married on Saturday!!!

10.  Pray for our Vaction Bible School coming up in just under a month now!
Pray for kids to come and to make decisions for Christ.