“I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how thankful I am for all your help and advice.  I am so glad that I decided to sign up for a mentor.  I feel like without this experience in my life, I wouldn’t know where I’d be, probably dead, though I am not proud to admit that, it’s most likely true.  I truly feel that you are one of my best friends, even thou we’ve never met and don’t know a lot about each other I feel like you were meant to be my mentor, like God knew it from the start that that’s what he wanted you to do. Thank you so much for being here for me, and I’d love to continue emailing you.”

Our mentor will continue through the journey with this girl and often, our mentors are the only people the teens trust.

It is why I do what I do.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the thousands of website visitors and partner respondents that connect with our staff and volunteers every month. Pray that we would not only be able to help them through the struggles that they know about, but that we would be able to help them with the eternal struggle.
• We would ask for prayers for wisdom. We are currently finalizing the strategic plans for the 10/11 year. (Power to Change still follows the school year that Campus Crusade for Christ uses for planning purposes.)
• Pray that in everything we do, we would see God’s touch on it.

Besides your prayer support being critical to our ministry, we are in a period of financial need. Would you be willing to give a gift to help TruthMedia continue to be there when people are searching for God?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Power to Change Staff Member Survives Bomb Blast

Langley, British Columbia
November 9, 2008

Gary Stevenson, a staff member with the Campus for Christ ministry of Power to Change, has survived a bombing at his home in Langley, B.C. The attack occurred at approximately 11:30 AM Saturday morning as the Stevenson family was loading a van to move out of their townhouse. Mr. Stevenson picked up a package delivered anonymously to his door, thinking it was a gift, but it exploded when he attempted to open it.

Mr. Stevenson was taken immediately to hospital where he was treated for lacerations and burns. Surgeons removed shrapnel from his abdomen. No
other members of the Stevenson family were injured. He is expected to make a full recovery.

The townhouse complex was sealed off by police who swept the area to ensure there were no other explosive devices. Investigators gathered evidence until late Saturday evening at which time residents were allowed to return to their homes. Police investigators say that they have no suspects or information about motive and caution against premature speculations.

Mr. Stevenson serves with Campus for Christ on the campus of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia where he works with students. Mike Woodard, National Director of Campus for Christ, expressed shock at the attack. “Gary is a just a great guy,” Woodard said, “one our most innovative staff who really enjoys engaging with university students on life’s most significant issues.” The director of Campus for Christ at Simon Fraser, Derek Hill, added that “Gary really loves people. He spends time getting to know students, and is always ready to help someone with a problem.”

Stevenson is married with two children. In addition to his work at Simon Fraser, Mr. Stevenson has also served internationally. A brief assignment once took him to North Africa. He has worked most extensively in Nicaragua, where he served for two years.

Power to Change President, Leonard Buhler, expressed relief that Mr. Stevenson had survived the attack. “Our hearts are saddened by this terrible event,” Buhler said, “but our staff and others in the community have rallied strongly to support Gary and his family.” Buhler is asking people to pray for the family during the weeks of recovery ahead.

Power to Change is a Canadian Christian ministry with more than 500 staff serving across Canada and around the world. The ministry seeks to assist people in a spiritual journey where they discover the relevance of Jesus Christ to issues of life today.

For more information Contact Dr. Guy S. Saffold (guy.saffold@powertochange.org, 604-514-2000) at Power to Change, 20385 64th Avenue, Langley, B.C. For more information on Power to Change, visit www.powertochange.org.

Thursday at 14:45, we welcomed Jamie Dawn Kotyk outside. She was 6 lbs 8 oz, 20 inches long.

As you can see, she has her mommy’s good looks.

Thanks so much for your prayers. The girls are excited that Jamie is out of mommy but they did not anticipate the attention that would be lacking.

Personal/Family Requests

• Sometime before July 1, a child will be born and we will call him/her _____. Pray for us as we add our third child to the family.
• Health for the baby
• Pray for Julie’s health as she goes through the labour and recovery.
• That the breast feeding would happen without a struggle.
• Kristin and Ava’s adjustment to having another sibling
• God’s rest for Julie, myself and Grandma Elaine
• Speed in Julie’s maternity EI payment approval and arrival

TruthMedia Ministry Requests

• The Mentor Center launch: specifically that we would find all the important issues that would give mentors grief.
• Super Site: we need God’s wisdom as we go beyond anything we’ve done before.

For more TruthMedia requests, check out our TM prayer blog.

Add to that two daughters who are also struggling with different illnesses and I am one worn out daddy. I’ve missed a few days of work and I cannot afford to miss anymore.

Thanks for your prayers.