Gila Christian Ranch - Recent Prayer Letters

Dear Faithful in the Lord,

It's time I updated our friends on Rhodes and Ranch business.  Here's a quick rundown.

Our 2008 ministry at Gila Christian Ranch closed with our September youth conference. Each year we see the Devil employ cunning wiles against our work for the Lord, but each year we see God defeat the enemy and do a mighty work. This year was no exception! I thank the Lord we truly had good camps and saw lives change as only God can do. I know many guests sent by our own church were much affected. I love to hear follow-up reports. If someone from your church attended Gila Christian Ranch and has incurred a lasting effect, please send us a testimony so I can encourage our staff!

We continue to make facility progress. The Boys bath house was finished just in time for the youth conference. In addition to items mentioned in my last report, we have now completed the concrete floor for the entire pavilion. Praise the Lord, and "thanks" to those who gave for this project!

Our three big projects for the winter and spring are: 1) finish the bath house addition to the pavilion (approx $5000 more needed), 2) build a 12' extension to the other pavilion end (approx $2500 needed), and 3) build 7 permanent, waterproof tepees (cost not yet estimated). This is an ambitious list, and there are smaller projects needing completion, as well. Please pray with us about our needs. We need construction volunteers, as well as financial gifts.

I am just finishing our speaker arrangements for 2009 and will be forwarding information to the printer shortly. Here are highlights: Junior Week is June 8-13, Teen Week is June 15-20, and our Youth Conference is September 18 and 19. Additionally, we expect to have our Christian Workers' Retreat around July 2-4. Look for our brochure and Prayer Letter to be mailed in late November.

I have heard reports of churches that did not attend in 2008 who are planning to come in 2009. If you know of churches we should contact or visit, please let us know.  Gila Christian Ranch is slowly gaining recognition in the southwest.

Ana lost a very dear, elderly friend this week. Pray for Ana. Also, I will need to schedule doctors' visits for her, shortly. She is experiencing worsening effects from long-ago radiation treatments; effects which must be dealt with soon. Meanwhile, the kids are all doing well. As for me, I just had to greatly increase my time and commitment to engineering work. It was an absolute must for the financial survival of family and ministry, but a blow to needs of the Ranch. Pray for volunteers to arise who will help fill in the gap.

This short letter is getting long, so...adios!

We hope to hear from you!

For the family and the Ranch,

Randy Rhodes

For our most current "Rhodes Report" and "Rhodes Telegraph," email us at Rhodes_Ranch@hotmail.com, with your request to be added to our email distribution.