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A FRUITFUL TIME OF MINISTRY IN PARIS
We had a very special time ministering in a city-wide conference in Paris, April 10th-12th. The meetings were organized by a group of French-speaking African churches, but held in the building of one of the main (basically white), French churches. In spite of the intense spiritual opposition in Paris, many people testified to being deeply touched by the Lord. Perhaps the most important long-term fruit was the relationship built between white and black Christians in Paris, especially between two key pastors. Rick also spoke in the French church for their Easter Sunday morning service. The pastor's wife said she felt the message was so important for them, that she wrote the notes in the back of her Bible.
URGENT PRAYER REQUESTED CONCERNING OUR HOUSING
Please join with us in praying for very clear direction concerning our housing. Most of you know the Lord provided us with a house to rent here in Philadelphia which has served us very well. We enjoy very much the Jewish neighborhood in which He has placed us. As we mentioned in last month's newsletter, our landlord called to say they must sell the house. Either we must buy it, or move out by August. The owner gave us a price without a realtor's fee. We were working with the bank on the possibility of a loan (they said we must have more finances on hand first), when the owner informed us that they had listed the house with a realtor, which adds 6% to the selling price (the bank had told us we were already at the very limit of what we could hopefully borrow).
Please pray with us: 1. That we will remain in God's peace (not so easy, when we basically moved twice last year, once into temporary housing, and then from Belgium to Philadelphia). 2. That we will clearly hear if God is wanting us to move to another city or nation (we're open, but are very content here), or just to another dwelling here. 3. That the Devil will not be able to steal this house from us, if God has it for us. 4. That we will know soon, as much of our summer scheduling would be affected.
OUR ALGERIAN FRIEND, BELAID, AND NEWS OF THE FAMILY
Thanks for your prayers for Belaid, our Algerian friend, who has planted many churches there, which have seen about 1,000 Moslems come to Jesus. He has now arrived here to stay with us several weeks (after a some weeks in Texas, attending English classes). He will go along with Rick on the itinerary given below. Please pray for him that this will be a time of much-needed refreshment.
Bethany, Anna, and Esther are all growing spiritually, for which we are thankful. We have so enjoyed having the whole family together again. Please pray healing for Anna, who has had a fair amount of stomach and intestinal pain lately. Also, pray peace on them in this time of uncertainty about our housing (and hence their schooling).
Please pray for strength and anointing for ministry this month (you might mark these events on a calendar, to remember): May 3, 21 - ministry in the Philadelphia area (Trooper and Downingtown) May 5-7 - Boston, MA helping lead a state-wide prayer gathering, and ministering at Harvard University May 9-12 - city-wide prayer in Mobile, AL (after which we will visit the Pensacola revival with Belaid) May 24 - ministry at Harrisburg, PA, First Assembly of God May 26,27 - speaking for a Messianic Jewish ministry training center in Gaithersburg, MD May 27-29 - speaking for a River Conference (with Rob Stearns) near Washington, DC.
Thank you for all your letters and calls of encouragement. Love, Rick and Patti Ridings