August 2020 Update from Matt Barnes

Hello dear friends!

There is so much to share about how the ministry has been adapting and functioning over these past several months of the corona-virus pandemic that it's hard to know how to boil it down concisely.

In a word, the state of the ministry is strong! God has re-shaped and re-molded our work to fit the extenuating circumstances. In fact, the ministry has grown over the past several months. We have added an additional Bible study and have continued the Statehouse ladies studies and staff studies. All of these studies have been online because the Statehouse is still semi-closed. Attendance at the studies has remained steady and faithful. Although we may not be seeing all the people we minister to in person, that has not stopped the communication, care, counseling, prayer and ministry that God has given us. Praise the Lord!

The Psalmist wrote poignantly and poetically, "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:21-24

When all seemed dark, after four hundred years of silence from the Lord, and after He was rejected, scorned and crucified, Jesus came out alive and victorious. The Lord has ways of redeeming terrible times and turning them into blessings. He did it after the cross and He is doing so through this pandemic. It is truly marvelous in our eyes!

Here are a few of the fantastic things happening -

1) During the quarantine, we had forty days of prayer online with special guests from around the world and in various positions of influence. 2) We were able to finish Fairhaven (our home and ministry center) enough to move in and have been able to start having our first ministry guests! 3) Through Zoom we have continued the Legislator Bible Study. 10-20 legislators still join every Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. for an in-depth Bible study and prayer time. 4) We have been able to share with several churches in an online format, even though most of our in-person speaking engagements were canceled. God is good, and He does good!

If you are interested in having us come to your church and update or present this ministry, please let us know. We would love to see you in person or virtually. As I said earlier this year on my way to deliver a commencement address, "Have mask, will travel."

Also, we still plan on having our annual PSP prayer banquet, with social distancing in place, and we'd love for you to join us! Here are the details:

--------- SAVE THE DATE: September 10, 2020

4th Annual Public Servants' Prayer Banquet

6:00 p.m.

Life Line Baptist Baptist Church

13387 N Slideoff Rd.

Camby, IN 46113

RSVP needed for food and social distancing purposes.

**Click here for the event info and to RSVP. **

Thank you for your vital prayers and support that make this ministry possible!

Matt