Dear Friends and Family,
Our kindergartener is learning about patterns. He likes to point them
out wherever he finds them. I have
begun noticing a pattern as well. And it is one that has quite humbled
us.
Ryan is quite a gifted communicator (I may be biased, but it is
factually supported). He is regularly asked to fill in for pastors who are away
and give presentations to a variety of guests who come to learn about our ministry.
He also speaks often at staff gatherings.
It is in these speaking opportunities that I have seen the pattern
emerge. I remember a woman coming up to me, with tears in her eyes, following a
sermon he preached at a local, partner church. She took my hands and asked that
I relay to Ryan how timely his message was. It was exactly what she needed to
hear that morning. At another time I remember a person sharing that the Holy Spirit spoke
directly to her through the Word Ryan shared that day. One person actually came
jogging through the parking lot to ask for Ryan’s notes to take home to her
husband.
Most recently we received an email after Ryan spoke on a Wednesday and
then a Facebook message after he spoke the following Sunday saying many of the
same things. One of our co-workers was able to do some filming inside the
prison where Ryan teaches and one of the inmates thought she was so lucky to
have an office right next to “Mr. Carter.”
While I may be biased towards my amazing husband, I am also quite grounded
in reality. Both of us are confident that it is not on our own strength that
lives are being touched by the faithful handling of His
Word, but the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those He
loves. We are so humbled that He has chosen to use us in such a way that we can
see. So often in ministry we are not privileged to see the fruit of our labor.
It is our prayer that this is just a small taste of how God is using us as He
is expanding His kingdom around us in ways we do not even know.
Thank you for faithfully standing by us and making it possible for us
to share Christ in the city. When you
pray, ask that the Lord would give Ryan the time, energy, and clarity
of mind as he studies and teaches the Word of God.
Serving the city,
Ryan, Amber, Benjamin and Nathaniel Carter
