OSL News
2004 Annual Report
On February 20-22, 2004, an OSL Healing Mission was held at Holy Comforter. Guest speakers were The Rt. Rev. Wm and Betty Cox and The Rev. Jack and Anna Marie Sheffield. Over 200 people attended this mission. Proceeds from this mission were donated to the sabbatical fund for Fr. Steve. Plans have begun this year for March 4-6, 2005, with The Rev. Canon Mark A. Pearson as guest speaker. Canon Pearson was the keynote speaker for the International Order of St. Luke the Physician North American Conference this past summer in New Mexico. Canon Pearson is a published author and his books are on the OSL recommended reading list. Because Canon Pearson is located in the East Coast area, preliminary notification has been mailed to the entire membership of OSL for the State of Texas. He is a popular speaker and draws people from all over the country. Due to Canon Pearson’s reputation in the OSL communities nationwide, this will be a highly publicized event, and expectations are that the numbers of attendees will be great.
The "Going Deeper" study and OSL Training Classes continue to meet. One training class was inducted this year and another has begun. The new inductees for this year are Sandra Bekech, Debbie Barrett, and Linda McCormack. If you are interested in attending an evening Bible study, you are most welcome to attend either of these studies. You do not have to be a member of OSL or in the training classes of OSL to attend.
Members of Holy Comforter participated in the Charles and Frances Hunter Healing Explosion this summer. Seven members from our OSL participated in 10 hours of intensive training in order to serve on the healing teams during the Healing Explosion event at the Astrodome.
This Fall members of our OSL were invited to participate in a Community Prayer Coalition of the Spring/Klein/Champion area. This group is called to do intercession for the surrounding areas to include neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and churches. This group also has been called to pray for a great harvest of souls.
Weekly, members of the OSL serve on prayers teams during Sunday morning worship services and bi-monthly at the WOW (Worship on Wednesdays) services. Members also make home and hospital visits to pray with church members who are home-bound or in the hospital.
If anyone is interested in joining either of these studies, you may contact me at home at 281-353-2904 or just come. Please check weekly pew sheets for meeting times.
My prayer is that you may abound in liberty in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancilea Redding
OSL Convenor
The Holy Comforter OSL Healing Mission 2004 is now history. Much thought and hard work went into our having the best Healing Mission ever! I am so grateful to all of you in OSL for stepping up and stepping out to see that all was done with excellence. I am especially grateful to those outside of OSL who brought their time, talents, and treasures and freely gave their best. Jay Baker blessed us with her excellent gift of food and hospitality for the Ministry Teams and Leaders. A special "thank you" goes to Mac and Misty Redding for presenting a great deli-style lunch, prepared with their own precious hands. Also, a special thanks to Cindy McCurly and Jennifer Sowell for all the extra help in the kitchen. You two are a great team and you truly made things run along smoothly. The Daughters of the King offered priceless intercessory prayer throughout the services. God's love and power was poured out upon us all. Last, but not least, those who graciously opened their homes to the Music Team, and made them feel comfortable and cared for, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Bishop and Betty Cox were a powerful blessing. Betty's teaching on the healing of memories was so sweet and so profound. I personally received comfort and healing from old hurts, and I am still hearing the testimonies of others. Bishop Cox gently but firmly exhorted us to forgive and be forgiven, in order to receive the blessings of the Lord. I cannot begin to cover in one article all the wisdom and understanding that he brought to us.
Father Jack and Anna Marie Sheffield brought a teaching on generational curses that was a fresh revelation to most of us. I don't believe we realized how much illness and sin can be passed down in a family, and that this, too, can be transformed by the Holy Blood of Jesus. If anyone would like further prayer for something they thought about or remembered after the services were over, please let me know and we will do it.
I want to hear all the testimonies of those who went for prayer. The Glory of the Lord was present and many miracles occurred. Please share your testimonies with those who were unable to attend. The Lord is still present to heal and restore, so we can expect many more miracles.
All Thanks and Praise be unto God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Liberty and Love in Christ,
Nancilea Redding, OSL Convener
2003 Annual Report
This year the Lord has brought about a mighty growth in His healing ministry. There have been numerous testimonies of healing of body, mind, and spirit. We in OSL are encouraged by and excited about what the Lord has done, is doing, and intends to do.
The Prayer, Praise, and Healing Services have expanded from once a month to twice a month, beginning last September. This is always a blessed opportunity to praise and worship our God in whatever way we are comfortable. We are able to be in his presence and know that HE IS. The times for Prayer Teams to minister to those who come hurting and hoping are totally indescribable.
This year, two OSL Training Classes were held; one in the morning and one in the evening. All participants were inducted into OSL at the completion of the classes: Kathy Johnson, Carmelina Alvarez, Lee and Diana Stein, Connie Rosa, Marsha Nixson, and Caroline Pointer. Each one is called and equipped for the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
In September, Holy Comforter was blessed with a ministry weekend led by FAITH ALIVE! The Order of St. Luke spearheaded this event with the help and heart of other faithful people here. We truly received eternal blessings through the FAITH ALIVE! team.
Every Sunday during the 10:30 AM service, OSL ministers are available for prayer during communion as well as after services. We are also honored to pray at any time for anyone who needs healing, comfort, visitation, or encouragement in the Lord.
OSL will offer two new studies, starting in January, 2004. The "Going Deeper" series is open to all and at this time it appears that there may be as many as 20 to 25 participants. Also a new OSL Training Class will begin, with 5 participants signed up at this time.The dates and times of the classes will be announced soon.
The OSL Healing Mission will be held February 20-22, 2004. The leaders will be Father Jack and Ann Marie Sheffield, as well as Bishop Cox and his wife Betty. This promises to be an incredibly powerful and well-attended healing opportunity.
God’s immeasurable love for us guarantees His faithfulness in completing the glorious work he has begun.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancilea Redding, OSL Convener
2002 Annual Report
The Order of St. Luke the Physician (OSL) is an order within the Church that exists to promote the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Holy Comforter’s chapter was chartered in December of 2001 and currently has fourteen (14) members.
In June of 2002, we sponsored our first-ever Healing Mission, with the Rev. Jack Sheffield, Episcopal Priest and Region VII Warden of OSL, as featured speaker/leader. Approximately seventy-five (75) people from across the state of Texas attended the two-day event. While the objective of the mission was to promote healing, not to make money, OSL did contribute over a thousand dollars ($1000) to the general fund of the parish. Plans are already in the works for a bigger and better healing mission this year.
If you have prayer needs, or are interested in the ministry of healing, contact Nancilea Redding, OSL Convenor, Fr. Steve, or any OSL member.
