It has been many years since I was on the Pittsburgh District. The impact of the pastors and laypersons has forever left a spiritual mark on my life. Because someone was willing to give of their time to teach a young man about God, I am different. God uses ordinary people to impact the lives of others. Thank you Pittsburgh district for giving of yourselves.

This year, at Family Camp, there was a seemingly impossible roadblock between me and God. It may actually have started to become a god to me. All week long the Spirit chipped away at the situation. Finally I was able to listen to a friend who reminded me that God can make us "want to." I was able to willingly surrender the situation but was uncomfortable sharing it with anyone else. A couple days later I did tell a friend who said God had been speaking to them about the very same thing! Not only did God do the impossible, He sent a friend to go through the impossible with me!

Our church is on a different district, but we are encouraged by your district's participation in Continuing Lay Training studies. We notice from the Awards Page on CLT that you have several students and it appears you have at least one in Lay Ministry. This is tremendous. The Continuing Lay Training Program is truly a gift from God. We are thankful that the program continues and hope it expands on your district and ours.

My son recently took a bus load of teens to Aquire the Fire, and on the way home they broke down. An adult passenger asked if there was anything he could do and my son replied, "Not unless you have a five-eights inch heater hose." In what seemed like minutes, the same gentlemen found a piece of five-eights inch heater hose, three times as long as they needed, brand new never used, still with the tag on it, discarded by the side of the road. Coincidence? I think not. God says, "I will supply all of your needs..." Praise the Lord!

I give Thanks with a greatful heart to my pastor and church support. I have recently answered the call on my life to become a pastor and thank the Lord for his grace and Love!

I have been gone now from the area for well over 41 years. My mother is currently in a nursing home on the Pittsburgh District suffering with Alz. disease. I was raised on the Pgh district until I graduated from High School and left to go to Washington DC for a job. I never felt so helpless as I did when my Mom become ill. My prayers have been for the strength to get through my mom's illness. One morning, when I was in Charlotte, NC, I was feeling particularly sad. I decided to visit the Billy Graham Museum. Just setting foot at the museum left me with a sense of calmness. They prayed with me at the Billy Graham Museum and I felt a sense of peace that I have never felt before. I knew that God was answering my prayers. Right then and there I put my Mother in God's hands.