Dear Friends,

The purpose of this monthly e-mail is to share updates on ministry, family, praise and prayer. Not always in that order. Not always with equal time. But always with heart and hopefully a little humor (yeah, I know, "very little!").

If you'd like to read this e-Mailer with the photos, or see a past issue, some with photos, click on "Ministry" at www.jonesjournal.org. It seems to be problematic to try and attach photos to my email messages that I send to all of you in a large distribution list, as I tried to do last month. So you have the choice to just read the text here or go and see pictures plus read the text online.

In the first photo you'll see our family rallying around two symbols with great meaning for us: the flag represents our liberty and the car represents our kids' captivity for hours at a time!

The next photo was taken at the Portland Fire Women's Pro Basketball game we got to attend with some extended family. Many thanks to Portland Christian Center and Dale Sies for making that possible. Chloe was thrilled also to be able to attend a game of the LA Sparks at Staples Center, home of the Three-peat Champion Lakers!

Last week at the midweek service here at Kingsway Assembly Worship Center, Anthony was baptized in the Holy Spirit! It was quite emotional and exciting for him. The pastor's wife who was praying for him asked Anthony to then pray for another boy who also was baptized in the Holy Spirit. One of Anthony's neighbor-friends, who's also a PK (preacher's kid), said, "You got it, dude!" with a thumbs-up!

The last photo here is from Camp Hartland, where Chloe, Celina and Yvonne attended Missionette camp. These are most of the campers, counselors and leaders who went from the Arroyo Grande church.

Please pray for our kids as they enter a new school year. Anthony and Celina will return to Pacific Coast Christian School. Gracie will also continue to go part-time to her school, and especially her "Happy Feet" class. Especially remember Chloe who will be attending Paulding Middle School, her first experience in a public, non-Christian school.

Well, I guess I stole my own thunder for what comes next: We have been extended by AGWM HQ through December 2002. As you well know, we viewed 9/6/02 as a deputation dead-line date. Thanks to many churches and individuals like you we've seen about $1600 in new monthly support come in during the past couple months. So we've been given a few more months to raise about $1700 more per month. That would complete our budget and not require us to do home-schooling instead of the original schools

Let me pause here and say loudly, one more time, "THANKS!" for responding with new or increased pledges! For those who've supported us steadily, we also thank you for being faithful.

Here's where we stand currently:

To date, we've held 127 services and had 69 appointments with pastors. Currently we have 142 supporters providing monthly pledges totaling $8131.50 of the $9937 needed. Cash budget is about $28,271 of the $47,842 needed.

I have been forced well out of my comfort zone in having to ask repeatedly for new or increased pledge support. To be honest, it has surprised me how positive the reaction of Pastors has been, even if they have to say "no" at this time. So I'm hoping for that same reaction right now! Would you please prayerfully consider adding to our monthly financial and prayer support in any amount, large or small? Thank you for thinking about it.

This story happened on a Sunday morning. In Sunday School I fielded questions from a woman who I later described to the pastor as "cantankerous." He agreed. "She never supports anything," he told me. So after our presentation, preaching and prayer in the service, it was to both of our surprise when he relayed to us her decision to support us financially. That's definitely God at work.

Now, we don't pretend to be able to charm the cantankerous, but we do recognize that God can speak to all people of every personality type. If we can share at your church or group, please feel free to contact us.

We have many dates available to schedule September - December 2002. If we're not able to schedule, please consider taking our pledge request before the leaders who decide on missions support. If I've not done so already, I can send you a promo CD-R with a Power Point slide show, promo materials, plus our entire web page for review. Please let us know what you'd like to do either way.

Many churches have expressed an interest in supporting us, but not until next year. If that's your situation as well, we would be happy to wait a little while. Please just give us an idea of your future plans.

I know most of the world will be focusing on the events of a year ago on 9/11. Our prayers go out to those who mourn, and to those who lead. This passage speaks to me about my position during the tumult.

Psalm 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

Thanks so much for reading through to the end! Thanks so much for your prayers and support that make this ministry possible. May God richly bless you!

God bless you. Yours for Them,